BY TONI GINNETTI – For the Sun-Times
What does it mean to a team when its ace takes the mound?
“You know you have a great chance to win, and especially with Chris Sale,’’ White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton said. “Any team has their top three [starters] and they’ll always be giving their best—but especially with Sale.
“We don’t want to put any more pressure on him because he puts a lot on himself, but you know you’re going to have a great chance [to win].’’
But the “Sale’’ effect can work two ways.
“When you face an ace, you’re excited,’’ Eaton added. “I think some of your best at-bats come when you’re facing a top guy. When you know you have to bring your `A’ game it helps you focus. You see a mountain and you want to climb it.’’
There was no chance for that Sunday for the Toronto Blue Jays against the major league’s victory leader.
“He’s one of the best in the game,’’ Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said of the lefty who notched his 13th win in the 5-2 victory.
“It’s obvious when you watch him pitch. He’s got a dynamite fastball, a good changeup and he’s got that sweeping breaking ball that he’ll throw that will run down and in to those righties.
“He’s definitely one of the best, no question about that.’’
Sox manager Robin Ventura disagrees only slightly.
“He IS the best,’’ he said of Sale (13-2).
For seven innings, Sale held the powerful Blue Jays scoreless on five hits, but he had defensive help.
In the first inning, Eaton’s throw from right got Josh Donaldson out at second trying to stretch a single. In the fourth and seventh, the Sox infield turned rally-killing double plays.
“Especially in the first inning when you’re still trying to find yourself a little bit, and then double plays,’’ Sale said lauding his teammates.
“When I’m on the baseball field, there’s nothing I love more than winning. A close second is keeping guys in the bullpen, too,’’ he added of resting the taxed relief corps. “They’ve been working their butts off and used a lot and doing a great job.’’
The Sox gave Sale an early 2-0 lead in the third and added two more in the fifth, including rookie Tim Anderson’s third home run.
The Blue Jays ended the shutout bid in the eighth with solo homers from Troy Tulowitzki and Junior Lake, but Sox outfielder J.B. Shuck extended the lead in the eighth with a home run.
Ventura had closer David Robertson (20thsave) finish things to secure the series win.
“After they touched [Sale] a couple times in the eighth, I think he reared back and let it go,’’ Ventura said. “You start looking at how many innings he was getting after it, and you’re trusting that Robby can come in there.’’
The victory gave the Sox their first back-to-back series wins since April and lifted their record back to .500 (38-38).
Sale accounts for about a third of those wins so far, and he is the first Sox pitcher to collect 13 wins before the All-Star break since Jon Garland did it in 2005.
But talk of starting the All Star game for the American League squad is fodder for others.
“I’m not here to try to prove anything to anybody,’’ Sale said, deferring praise to his teammates. “The guys are in your corner and are fighting for you and believe in you like my guys do, and it gives me the confidence to be the best I can.
“I feel good, there’s no doubt about that. [Catchers] Dioner Navarro and [Alex] Avila have really kind of carried me through these games. They know what’s working on a certain day and they know what fingers to put down. You have to credit them as well.’’
