Sale leaves game after four innings

BALTIMORE — White Sox ace Chris Sale was removed from the game against the Orioles after four innings on Tuesday night.

There was no immediate word from the Sox on whether Sale was injured. He allowed four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five. He allowed a three-run double to Nick Markakis in the second inning and a home run to Lew Ford in the third.

Sale threw 75 pitches, 46 for strikes.

He was replaced by right-hander Philip Humber.

Sale’s night started out well enough with four strikeouts of the first six Orioles he faced. But with two out in the second inning, Nate McLouth blooped a single and Sale loaded the bases by walking the No. 8 and No. 9 hitters, Manny Machado and Robert Andino. Markakis then cleared the bases with a double to deep center to give the Orioles a 3-0 lead.

After allowing a walk and then getting Matt Wieters to hit into a double play in the third, Sale gave up a home run to Ford to make it 4-0. It was Ford’s second home run in two nights and his second in five years.

In the fourth, Sale gave up two hits without allowing a run. His night was over after 75 pitches (46 for strikes), six hits and three walks allowed and five strikeouts.

On Sunday in Detroit, Sale is scheduled to face the Tigers and Justin Verlander. So there was some logic in getting Sale out of the game rather than leave him in with the Sox chasing a four-run deficit and scratching out nothing more than an infield hit by Dayan Viciedo in the first six innings against Orioles starter Chris Tillman.