SHIRT HITS FAN AS SALE ERUPTS
Angry ace won’t wear throwbacks
Chris Sale is on a tear again, just not on the mound.
The White Sox ace was suddenly scratched from his start on Saturday after he shredded the throwback uniforms the team was supposed to wear against the Detroit Tigers, according to multiple reports.
An angry Sale asked the front office not to wear the jerseys because they were uncomfortable, according to Ken Rosenthal, and when management refused, Sale took matters into his own hands.
The promotional throwback night was reportedly on the schedule all year, but Sale normally picks his jersey before starts.
The cutting controversy came as trade rumors began to swirl around Sale, and the confrontation was originally reported as a “non-physical clubhouse incident.”
Sale, who was to attempting to become the majors’ first 15-game winner, was sent home from the park.
FanRag Sports first reported that the incident involved Sale’s protest of the throwback jerseys. Fox Sports reported Sale cut up the throwback jerseys during batting practice.
“The incident, which was non-physical in nature, currently is under further investigation by the club,” general manager Rick Hahn said in a statement. “The White Sox will have no additional comment until the investigation is completed.”
The White Sox marketing department described the night as the “Throwback Game.” It announced the team would wear collared, blue and white V-neck jerseys first worn during the 1976 season.
The players instead wore more conventional, throwback white jerseys with no collar and no navy.
Right-hander Matt Albers started in Sale’s place and the White Sox used five relievers in a game that was suspended at 3-3 after eight innings due to rain.
The crowd booed when Albers was announced as the starter as the teams warmed up.
With the White Sox fading from playoff contention, Sale’s name has been mentioned as a possible trade target for contending teams.
The left-hander, 14-3 with a 3.18 ERA, has been outspoken in the past.
Sale was openly critical of team president Ken Williams during spring training when he said the son of teammate Adam LaRoche would no longer be allowed in the clubhouse. LaRoche retired as a result, and Sale hung LaRoche’s jersey in his locker.
The 27-year-old Sale has said he’d like to stay in Chicago. He was the 13th overall pick out of Florida Gulf Coast in 2010 and has been selected as an AllStar five times. He started for the American League in this month’s All-Star Game.
In his last outing Monday, Sale allowed one hit over eight shutout innings before closer David Robertson gave up four runs in the ninth in Chicago’s loss to Seattle.
The White Sox, who are 2310, have dropped eight of nine games.
TWINS 11, RED SOX 9: Miguel Sano homered and Eduardo Nunez drove in three runs, including two in a five-run seventh inning, and Minnesota rallied to beat Boston.
NATIONALS 3, PADRES 2: Pinch-hitter Stephen Drew hit a game-ending RBI triple in the ninth inning to lift host Washington.
MARINERS 14, BLUE JAYS 5: Hisashi Iwakuma pitched six innings to win his fifth straight start, Nelson Cruz hit his ninth career grand slam and homered twice for visiting Seattle.
ROCKIES 8, BRAVES 4: Trevor Story hit two home runs and host Colorado beat Atlanta.
ORIOLES 5, INDIANS 2: Mark Trumbo hit his major league-leading 30th home run, Kevin Gausman pitched seven shutout innings and host Baltimore beat Cleveland in a duel between first-place teams.
PIRATES 7, PHILLIES 4: Gregory Polanco and David Freese hit two-run singles during a five-run fifth inning to rally and Pittsburgh beat Philadelphia after top Pirates prospect Tyler Glasnow was removed with shoulder discomfort.
DODGERS 7, CARDS 2: Adrian Gonzalez hit his eighth home run, red-hot Justin Turner got two more RBIs and Los Angeles beat host St. Louis to end the Cardinals’ five-game winning streak.
BREWERS 6, CUBS 1: Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit two home runs, Zach Davies took a shutout into the seventh inning and host Milwaukee beat Chicago. Jonathan Lucroy also homered, giving Milwaukee the lead with a two-run shot in the first.
ASTROS 7, ANGELS 2: Evan Gattis had two home runs and four RBIs in his return to the lineup, Collin McHugh threw six strong innings and Houston beat visiting Los Angeles.
REDS 6, DBACKS 1: Jay Bruce hit a three-run homer and barely missed another during one of host Cincinnati’s final home games before the trade deadline. —With AP