May 13, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees in the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Photo Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK — Chris Sale became the first eight-game winner in the majors when he tossed a six-hitter as the Chicago White Sox rolled to a 7-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday.
Sale (8-0) allowed one run and four hits in becoming the first Chicago starter to win his first eight starts since Jon Garland in 2005 and the fourth in team history. He allowed one run or fewer for the 52nd time in 124 career appearances.
The left-hander recorded his second complete game of the season and the 10th of his career.
Sale’s lone mistake was a 1-1 pitch to Headley that landed in the left field seats in the second.
The White Sox (24-12) won for the eighth time in 12 games by scoring early and often against New York right-hander Luis Severino (0-6).
The Yankees (14-20) dropped to 4-9 when facing a left-handed started and were held to one run or fewer for the ninth time.
Cubs 9, Pirates 4
CHICAGO — Addison Russell, Kris Bryant and David Ross all homered as Chicago (26-8) beat Pittsburgh in the opener of a three-game weekend series.
Jason Hammel allowed one earned run as he worked a season-high 6 2/3 innings to improve to 5-0.
Francisco Liriano (3-2) took the loss for the Pirates (18-16), who dropped to 0-4 against the Cubs this season and slipped eight games behind Chicago in the National League Central.
Nationals 5, Marlins 3
WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper, who fell behind 0-2 in the count, recovered nicely and crushed a two-run homer in the seventh to break a tie and help Washington beat Miami.
Harper, who entered the game with an on-base average of .441, walked his first two times to the plate and singled in his third trip.
It was the 11th homer of the year for Harper, who was ejected in the ninth inning Tuesday and is waiting his appeal of a one-game suspension from Major League Baseball.
Orioles 1, Tigers 0
BALTIMORE — Adam Jones hit his 200th career home run and Chris Tillman threw seven shutout innings as Baltimore stretched its winning streak to six games.
The Orioles (22-12) could not do much against Detroit starter Justin Verlander (2-4), scoring the lone run when Jones homered in the sixth inning.
Jones finished 2-for-3 and is 11-for-17 since May 10. The Tigers have lost three in a row and 10 of their last 11.
Astros 7, Red Sox 6
BOSTON — George Springer hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off former University of Connecticut teammate Matt Barnes in the sixth inning as Houston erased a four-run deficit and ended Boston’s five-game winning streak.
Springer, whose homer was his eighth of the year, and Jose Altuve both stroked three hits and scored twice to help the struggling Astros to their fourth win in their last six games. Marwin Gonzalez delivered a pair of RBI singles.
The Red Sox’ Jackie Bradley Jr. extended his career-best hitting streak to 19 games — the high in the majors this season — with three hits and has 15 RBIs in his last five games.
Athletics 6, Rays 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Oakland snapped a five-game losing streak, getting four home runs — two from Danny Valencia — in a victory over Tampa Bay.
The Athletics (15-21) had allowed at least 11 runs in each of its last four losses, but found its pitching as well with starter Rich Hill (5-3) overcoming a rough start and retiring 12 batters in a row at one point.
The Rays (15-18) dropped their fourth straight game as starter Jake Odorizzi (0-2) needing 42 pitches to get through the first inning and allowing six hits in the Athletics’ first nine at-bats.
Phillies 3, Reds 2
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia opened up a nine-game homestand with a victory over Cincinnati for its major league-leading 13th one-run win.
Jeremy Hellickson allowed two runs in seven innings, allowing four hits and two unearned runs while striking out nine — one shy of his career high — against one walk to earn his third victory. He also provided the winning RBI in the fourth inning.
Hellickson gave way to Hector Neris, who pitched a clean eighth inning. Jeanmar Gomez hit Joey Votto with a 1-2 pitch with one out in the ninth, but induced Brandon Phillips into a game-ending double play to earn his major league-best 14th save.
Blue Jays 5, Rangers 0
ARLINGTON, Texas — Veteran right-hander R.A. Dickey retired 14 straight Texas hitters and the Toronto offense got going late en route to victory.
Dickey allowed three singles, including a bunt to leadoff hitter Rougned Odor, in eight innings.
The Blue Jays blew the game open in the eighth inning with a solo home run by Edwin Encarnacion and a two-run blast by Troy Tulowitzki.
Indians 7, Twins 6
CLEVELAND — Marlon Byrd’s two-run double keyed a three-run, eighth-inning rally as Cleveland beat Minnesota.
The Indians’ Josh Tomlin pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up four runs (three earned) and four hits with four strikeouts, two walks and three home runs allowed.
The Twins’ Ricky Nolasco pitched six innings, giving up four runs and four hits with three strikeouts, three walks and two home runs allowed.
Royals 5, Braves 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo.– Salvador Perez drove in two runs with an eighth-inning single and Edinson Volquez allowed one run over seven innings as Kansas City defeated Atlanta.
Perez’s two-run single with two strikes in the eighth highlighted a three-run inning. All the runs were charged to Braves rookie reliever Hunter Cervenka, who had not allowed a run in his first 15 big league appearances, covering 10 1/3 innings.
Volquez (4-3) yielded six hits, struck out two and walked none, throwing 55 strikes in 83 pitches.
Brewers 1, Padres 0
MILWAUKEE — Junior Guerra spun six shutout innings and slumping Chris Carter’s first-inning sacrifice fly led Milwaukee past San Diego.
Guerra (2-0), making his third major league start, Guerra scattered two hits and walked only two batters while striking out four. He also had his first major league hit, singling in the third against Christian Friedrich.
Friedrich (0-1) went six innings, allowing just the run and four hits with four strikeouts after being called up earlier in the day to replace Andrew Cashner.
