:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/7164495/145400501.jpg)
For those of you that had to work or were at a bbq, you missed one hell of a pitchers duel. Matt Moore shutdown the hot White Sox offense today but Chris Sale did a little bit better, as the Sox continue their winning ways with a 2-1 victory.
Sale struck out the side in the first inning and the strikeouts kept on coming. He finished with 15 on the day, one shy of the all time White Sox record set by Jack Harshman on July 25, 1954.
The Rays struck first in the bottom of the 4th inning. With one out, Ben Zobrist smashed a single to left. He went on first move and Sale seemingly picked him off, but Adam Dunn's throw to Alexei Ramirez was off line and Zobrist slid in safely. Jose Lobaton hit a hanger into left field to bring home the first run of the ballgame.
Dunn made up for the throw in the 6th. With the score still 1-0 Rays, Gordon Beckham laced a single to left. Dunn followed with an absolute moon shot to the last row in the bleachers to make it 2-1 White Sox. It was Dunn's 16th homer of the season and his 4th off of a lefty.
After Sale struck out the side in the 6th, the Rays would threaten to tie the game in the 7th. Lobaton led off with a walk. Shortstop Elliot Johnson ripped a ball down the third base line that Orlando Hudson laid out for and got the force out at 2nd. After a passed ball, Sale got Carlos Pena to chop out to second and struck out Jose Molina to end the threat for his 15th strikeout. Sale pumped his fist and yelled after the big strikeout.
Sale came out in the 8th to face Rich Thompson and hopefully tie Harshman's record. After two quick strikes, Thompson chopped one to Beckham for the out. Robin Ventura came out and ended Sale's impressive day when he called for Jesse Crain who got back to back fly outs to center to end the inning.
With one out in the 9th, Paul Konerko came up to bat hoping to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. He did just that with the ultimate duck snort to right field. With two on and two outs, Dayan Viciedo was unable to give the Sox an insurance run as he grounded weakly to first.
Addison Reed came on in the 9th to close the game and he did just that getting Zobrist and pinch hitters Matt Joyce and Luke Scott down in order to preserve the win for Sale.
WP: Sale (6-2)
LP: Moore (1-5)
S: Reed (5)
HR: Dunn (16)
* Moore struck out 10 himself, giving the starters 25 strikeouts on the afternoon.
* Tom Paciorek was in the booth relieving Steve Stone who is on vacation. It was a fun broadcast.
* I can't stress how great both of the starters looked. What a great game if you love good pitching.
* The Sox moved into a tie for first with the win. The Indians are currently winning 6-4 in the 7th.
Record: 27-22| Box