Sale’s Stellar Outing Not Enough As White Sox Bullpen Blanks Braves
After spending seven years wearing and on one occasion cutting up, a White Sox uniform, Chris Sale was back on the Southside to face his former team. Thursday afternoon marked just the sixth time in Sale’s career he has had to go up against the organization that drafted him.
The game was rescheduled after the initially scheduled April 3rd matchup with the Braves was rained out. Sale turned back the clock and looked like the pitcher who made five All-Star appearances with the White Sox. In seven innings of work, the 35-year-old southpaw struck out a season-high 11 hitters and allowed just one run on four hits and one walk. However, it was a former Brave who got the last laugh.
Jared Shuster was traded by the Braves this offseason as part of a five-player package for Aaron Bummer. He has pitched sparingly for the White Sox this season, appearing in just 16 games. However, when he has gotten opportunities he has been effective. In 34 innings the 25-year-old owns a 3.18 ERA with 21 strikeouts and a 1.35 WHIP.
On Thursday Shuster held a potent Braves offense scoreless through three innings, allowing just one hit and a walk with two strikeouts. Shuster’s efforts earned him a win, thanks in part to Luis Robert Jr’s solo blast off of Chris Sale in the first inning.
That run turned out to be the difference maker as the White Sox bullpen was able to combine for a shutout. Chad Kuhl got the ball, making his first start for the White Sox and first MLB appearance since last April. Kuhl went three-plus innings and allowed just one hit before passing the baton to Justin Anderson.
Kuhl, Anderson, Shuster, and Brebbia were able to keep the Braves offense at bay setting the stage for Michael Kopech in the ninth. Kopech managed to log his sixth save of the season after working around a Paul DeJong error.