Sale ends drought with 8 scoreless, White Sox beat A's 6-2

CHICAGO -- Chris Sale pitched eight scoreless innings for his first victory in 49 days, Jose Abreu homered and the Chicago White Sox beat the Oakland Athletics 6-2 on Saturday night.

Sale (15-6) was the majors' first 14-game winner and the AL starter in the All-Star Game, but the lefty had gone 0-4 in six starts, interrupted by a five-day suspension for slicing up throwback uniforms he didn't want to wear.

Sale allowed three hits and retired the last seven batters, five by strikeout, while throwing a season-high 120 pitches.

The White Sox scored four runs with two outs, including Abreu's solo shot that just cleared the eight-foot wall in right in the first inning. Melky Cabrera added an RBI double in the second and a run-scoring single in the fourth off Ross Detwiler (1-2).

Oakland's Danny Valencia homered in a two-run ninth off Nate Jones before David Robertson earned his 31st save.

Detwiler allowed six runs and 10 hits in four innings in his third start for the banged-up A's, who have dropped six of seven.

Carlos Sanchez and Tim Anderson added two-out RBI singles for the White Sox a night after they were held to two singles. The White Sox snapped a two-game skid and won for the fourth time in 14 games.

Abreu, who has hit safely in 15 of 17 games, also doubled and scored in the third and walked in the fourth.

Sale got Khris Davis to hit into a double play with two on in the first. Sale walked three but got stronger as the game went on. He retired 15 of the last 16 batters and hit 96 mph while striking out the side in the seventh. He struck out eight and lowered his ERA to 3.15.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: RHP Jesse Hahn (shoulder) was supposed to come off the disabled list and start Sunday, but he suffered what he called minor discomfort in a bullpen session. "We will slow down the process," manager Bob Melvin said. "He'll have at least another rehab game, but I'm not sure when." ... DH Billy Butler, a .378 career hitter against Sale, was out with a stomach illness.

White Sox: 2B Tyler Saladino (back) sat out a second straight game. "He could play. It's just better that he gets a little time off," manager Robin Ventura said. ... OF Avisail Garcia (knee) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte. ... Ventura is hopeful C Alex Avila (hamstring) will begin another rehab stint within the week. ... RHP Miguel Gonzalez (groin) hopes to throw off the mound Sunday. ... 2B Brett Lawrie (hamstring, quadriceps) returned to Double-A Birmingham's lineup after sitting out two days.

PINDER DEBUTS

Chad Pinder, Oakland's second-round pick in 2013, made his major league debut, went 0 for 4 and flied deep to center with two on to end the game. The 24-year-old out of Virginia Tech became the 46th player to appear in a game for Oakland this season and the 11th to make his big league debut.

UP NEXT

A's rookie RHP Zach Neal (2-2, 5.19 ERA) will fill in for Hahn against Chicago LHP Jose Quintana (9-9, 2.85) on Sunday.