CHICAGO -- The Chicago White Sox grabbed an early lead Friday and held on for a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers to open the final series of the season.
How it happened: Chris Sale made White Sox history by breaking the club's strikeout record. The left-hander had seven on the night, giving him 274 on the year, topping Ed Walsh's mark of 269 set in 1908. Adam Eaton gave the White Sox the lead with a two-run double in the third inning. Reliever Matt Albers cleaned up the eighth inning after Sale put two runners aboard, while David Robertson pitched the ninth, recording his 34th save.
What it means: Sale's strikeout-heavy season ended, fittingly, in record fashion. The left-hander laid off his slider early in the year, but when he added it to the mix full-time, American League hitters were taken aback. His earlier run of eight consecutive starts of 10 or more strikeouts matched Pedro Martinez for longest ever. He also struck out 12 or more in five consecutive, matching Martinez and Randy Johnson for most in that category.
Outside the box: Sale's 274 strikeouts are the fourth highest in baseball since 2004, trailing only Clayton Kershaw, with 294 this season, Randy Johnson with 290 in 2004 and Yu Darvish with 277 in 2013.
Off beat: It hasn't been a good defensive season for the White Sox, but their outfield had reasons to boast this week. On Friday, right fielder J.B. Shuck made a diving catch on the warning track on a drive from the Tigers' Dixon Machado in the seventh inning. On Tuesday, Trayce Thompson made a catch while in a full-extension dive to preserve a victory for Jeff Samardzija against the Kansas City Royals.
Up next: The White Sox will send right-hander Erik Johnson (3-1, 3.45 ERA) to the mound Saturday in the middle game of the three-game series. The Tigers will counter with right-hander Justin Verlander (5-8, 3.39) in the 6:05 p.m. start from U.S. Cellular Field.
