CHICAGO — Chris Sale did not make history, but Chicago’s left-handed ace did pitch another gem Monday in the White Sox’s 4-2, come-from-behind victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at U.S. Cellular Field.
Sale was aiming to become the first pitcher in major league history to record at least 10 strikeouts in nine straight starts, but he finished with six in his 104-pitch complete-game victory.
The win came courtesy of a three-run, eighth-inning rally off Toronto starter Mark Buehrle, who threw a complete game and allowed no earned runs.
Melky Cabrera came through with a one-out double that plated two runs and provided the winning margin.
Reds 3, Nationals 2
WASHINGTON — Shortstop Eugenio Suarez hit a tiebreaking solo home run in the eighth inning, leading Cincinnati past Washington.
Suarez, who went 3-for-4 to raise his average to .329, broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning with a single to left field off Washington starter Doug Fister.
In the eighth, with the score 2-2, Suarez connected on an 0-2 pitch from Casey Janssen (0-2) that landed in the first few rows just inside the left field foul pole for his third home run of the year.
Astros 9, Indians 4
CLEVELAND — Preston Tucker had four hits, including a home run, and Dallas Keuchel pitched six solid innings as Houston beat Cleveland.
Keuchel (11-3) struck out eight, walked one and gave up three runs on nine hits. Tucker led a 16-hit Houston attack with two singles, a double, a home run and two RBIs.
Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco (10-7), who came within one out of pitching a no-hitter in his previous start, gave up five runs on 10 hits in four innings.
Pirates 2, Padres 1
PITTSBURGH — Pedro Alvarez’s RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning rallied Pittsburgh past San Diego.
Alvarez’s second career game-ending hit gave the Pirates their eight victory in 10 games and pinned a loss on his father-in-law, Padres interim manager Pat Murphy.
Andrew McCutchen started the winning rally with a one-out walk off Brandon Maurer (5-2), moved to second on Jung Ho Kang’s single, took third on Francisco Cervelli’s flyout then scored when Alvarez grounded up a single up the middle.
Rays at Royals, ppd., rain
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The game was rained out at Kauffman Stadium and will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader Tuesday.