CHICAGO — Toronto right-hander Marcus Stroman knew he had to pitch well with Chris Sale on the mound for the Chicago White Sox.
He wasn’t nearly good enough.
Stroman allowed four runs in five innings, and the Blue Jays lost 5-2 to Sale and the White Sox on Sunday.
“Sale is pretty much dominant every time out,” Stroman said. “Obviously, you know who you’re going against and you know it’s going to be a tough task for the offence. … You have to be at your best to take your team deep into games, so I didn’t do that today. It’s frustrating.”
Sale (13-2) pitched eight innings of two-run ball to become the majors’ first 13-game winner. The ace left-hander allowed five hits, struck out seven and walked two in his fourth straight victory.
“I felt good,” Sale said. “It was nice to get some quick outs and just try to roll with it. When you get into a groove, you just try to ride it out as best you can.”
Tim Anderson and J.B. Shuck homered to help Chicago take two of three from slumping Toronto, which has dropped five of seven. The White Sox returned to .500 (38-38) with their fifth win in seven games.
Sale was working on a shutout before Troy Tulowitzki homered down the left-field line with one out in the eighth. After Kevin Pillar struck out, Junior Lake made it 4-2 with a drive to left-centre.
Sale threw 67 of his 99 pitches for strikes. The Blue Jays were aggressive early in the count.
“You have no choice because he throws strikes,” Tulowitzki said. “If you don’t offer early, you’re going to be behind in the count. Everybody knows how good his putaway pitches are. He was tough.”
Stroman (6-4) walked four and struck out four.
“(Stroman) drew a tough assignment today. He almost had to be perfect,” manager John Gibbons said. “Sale is definitely one of the best, no doubt about that.”
Melky Cabrera and Adam Eaton each drove in a run for Chicago, which bounced back nicely after it hit seven solo homers in a frustrating 10-8 loss on Saturday. David Robertson pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save in 22 chances.
ON THE MOVE
After the game, the Blue Jays recalled right-hander Ryan Tepera from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned left-hander Chad Girodo to their top farm club.
NET RESULT
One day after Blue Jays reliever Jason Grilli barely reacted in time to stab a line drive that was headed for his face, he called for increased safety measures for fans.
“I don’t see how the nets can’t be extended down the foul lines in every park,” Grilli said. “That’s where the most balls come into the stands at 110 miles per hour while a lot of fans are on their cellphones.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: RHP Gavin Floyd was placed on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder tightness and RHP Bo Schultz was promoted from Triple-A Buffalo. Schultz pitched the eighth on Sunday. … 1B Justin Smoak (left knee) was out of the lineup for a third straight game. … OF Jose Bautista (swollen big toe) is making progress, but there is no timetable for his return.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (5-3, 2.70 ERA) takes the mound as Toronto opens a three-game series at Colorado. He’ll face RHP Jon Gray (4-3, 4.80 ERA).
White Sox: After a day off on Monday, LHP Jose Quintana (5-7, 3.04 ERA) will try to win for the first time since May 8 when the White Sox open a three-game home set against Minnesota and RHP Kyle Gibson (0-5, 6.05 ERA). Quintana is 0-6 with a 4.50 ERA over his last eight starts.