Sale, Sox roll over Yankees
NEW YORK -- Chris Sale became the first eight-game winner in the majors Friday night when he tossed a six-hitter as the Chicago White Sox rolled to a 7-1 victory over the New York Yankees.
Sale (8-0) allowed one run and four hits, became the first Chicago starter to win his first eight starts since Jon Garland in 2005 and the fourth in team history. He allowed one run or less for the 52nd time in 124 career appearances.
The left-hander recorded his second complete game of the season and the 10th of his career.
Sale worked quickly and efficiently. He threw 71 of 99 pitches for strikes and retired 15 straight before giving up a single to Starlin Castro and a one-out double to Mark Teixeira in the ninth.
Sale quickly finished it, getting Chase Headley to line out on the first pitch and needing two pitches to retire Gary Sanchez on a groundout.
Sale's lone mistake was a 1-1 pitch to Headley that landed in the left field seats in the second.
The White Sox (24-12) won for the eighth time in 12 games by scoring early and often against New York right-hander Luis Severino (0-6).
Alex Avila started a three-run second with an RBI double and Jose Abreu added a two-run single. After leaving the bases loaded in the second, Chicago scored four times in the third as Adam Eaton had a two-run double ahead of a two-run home run by Jimmy Rollins.
Severino was tagged for seven runs and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. He left with soreness in the back of his right elbow after throwing a 1-0 fastball to Abreu and was headed for an MRI.
The Yankees (14-20) dropped to 4-9 when facing a left-handed started and were held to one run or less for the ninth time.
The White Sox took a 1-0 lead when Brett Lawrie doubled and scored on Alex Avila's two-base hit with one out in the first. After an Austin Jackson infield single loaded the bases, Severino fanned Jimmy Rollins, but on the next pitch Abreu made it 3-0 with an RBI single up the middle.
Chicago loaded the bases again when Todd Frazier walked, but Severino retired Melky Cabrera on a grounder.
New York got a run back when Headley opened the second by driving an 0-1 pitch into the left-field seats for his second home run in as many games. But Chicago extended its lead to 5-1 when Eaton doubled over center fielder Aaron Hicks.
Two pitches later Chicago went up 7-1 when Rollins drove a 1-1 fastball into the second deck in right field.
NOTES: C Gary Sanchez became the sixth player to get a turn as the team's starting DH when he was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre to play against LHPs Chris Sale and Jose Quintana. To make room for Sanchez, the Yankees optioned LHP Tyler Olson to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre a day after recalling him. ... The White Sox officially requested waivers on LHP John Danks, who was designated for assignment last week. ... Chicago also purchased the contract of LHP Matt Purke from Triple-A Charlotte. ... CF Jacoby Ellsbury missed his seventh consecutive game and the Yankees are hoping to avoid placing him on the disabled list. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he thought Ellsbury was running better Thursday and it's possible he might return Saturday.