CHICAGO — The obvious thing about the Chicago White Sox right now is all the winning.
Their 2-1 victory in 10 innings on Monday was their sixth straight, which extended their season high and is the first time they’ve won that many in a row since the 2013 season. Their manager, Robin Ventura, sees more than the wins. He sees what’s behind it and enjoys the view.
“It’s their confidence that comes out when you start playing like this, getting some guys on base and some hits that fall in there, and you score late and score early,” Ventura said, before watching his team rally to tie the game 1-1 in the sixth off Corey Kluber and then win it in the 10th off the Indians’ bullpen. “Offensively, you feel better about yourself, and guys are feeling it as far as the way the lineup is working and where they’re at.”
Self-assurance is the name of the game now. They came into the game off a 5-1 road trip to Milwaukee and Oakland that included their first sweep of the A’s in Oakland since 1997, and their win Monday pushed them past the .500 mark for the first time since June 4, 2014.
“We’re picking up momentum,” said left-handed ace Chris Sale, who allowed just one run in eight innings for a no-decision against the Indians. “I think we’re all starting to get confident. We’ve always believed in each other, but I think we’re starting to believe in ourselves. When we put that combination on the field, hey … (Kluber’s) the best pitcher in the game, and to come out and not be fazed by that, to keep grinding, to keep at it and win in the end, you can’t ask for much more than that.”
Ventura won’t ask for much more. He’s hesitant to change anything at this point.
“You just continue to let them play,” Ventura said. “Again, it’s their confidence that needs to be high. Mine’s going to be the same every day, regardless. You’re just picking and choosing who’s in there, or maybe some decisions that need to be made in the bullpen. But these are the guys (who) actually go out there, and they’re looking at pitches, swinging at strikes, doing the same stuff that we’re doing right now. But again, their confidence is quite a bit higher than it’s been earlier in the year.”
