He had command issues, but worked out of trouble while allowing two runs and six hits.
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Cubs: RHP John Lackey (7-7, 3.79) has dropped five straight decisions since his last win on June 8 at Philadelphia. Chapman, in his second appearance since being acquired from the Yankees, consistently hit 102 miles per hour in his first save for his new team.
Sale, who was recently suspended for tearing up his uniform, scattered six hits and walked three over six innings. Ben Zobrist added an RBI single in the third. The subject of several trade rumors and many teams’ desires, Sale was suspended for cutting up throwback jerseys he didn’t want to wear while pitching. The left-hander said they were uncomfortable and became enraged when the team wouldn’t switch them out. The fourth game is Thursday night. “We’ve seen examples of that before, but I know him to be a good kid and I’m looking for him to get back and move on and keep going”. “[Cubs right-hander John] Lackey [one run allowed on four hits] was just better tonight”.
Chapman struck out Todd Frazier and got two groundouts in the ninth as the crowd buzzed as the radar gun reading flashed on the scoreboard.
After a rough introductory news conference when he struggled to answer questions about a previous domestic violence case, Chapman said he was “ecstatic about the environment”. The White Sox are struggling to stay in playoff contention and Sale’s behavior has caused friction with manager Robin Ventura and the front office.
The price for Sale is said to be high, with the White Sox asking for as many as five quality pieces in return.
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Cubs – Maddon said OF Jorge Soler (left hamstring), now on a rehab stint at Triple-A Iowa, “is on the verge of coming back”. “Going back and forth on a lot of different thoughts and ideas”, Maddon said. It makes sense why, as Sale is an elite starter who is under team control through 2019 for a paltry $42 million. “I really believe we’re due for a nice run out of him shortly”. Melky Cabrera has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games and is 11-for-25 against Ricky Nolasco, who is scheduled to start for the Twins in the series opener. Now sitting four games off the pace for the second wild card in the American League, if the front office does declare themselves “buyers”, Sale would seem to be the flawless fit to lead them to the promise land.
