White Sox starter struck out 14 Astros over eight innings tonight, but ended up a tough-luck loser as his team fell 2-1. Sale allowed the first run without allowing a hit (bookended by Alexei Ramirez errors) and the second on an infield single. The Astros managed just five hits (all singles) and a walk off Sale.
As usual, ESPN Stats & Info tweeted the relevant trivia:
Chris Sale is the 1st White Sox pitcher to lose a game with 14+ strikeouts in 100 years (Jim Scott, 1913) h/t @EliasSports
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 15, 2013
Sale is the fifth pitcher since 2007 to strike out 14+ and lose, joining James Shields and Francisco Liriano last year, and teammates Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee in 2011.
Despite the loss, the 24-year-old Sale lowered his ERA to 2.43, following up a breakout campaign last year in which he finished sixth in AL Cy Young balloting.
