With a second-inning strikeout of James McCann, White Sox starter Chris Sale set a new single-season strikeout record for the White Sox at 270. The record was previously held by Ed Walsh, who struck out 269 in 1908. Walsh needed 464 innings as opposed to Sale’s 203.
Prior to the strikeout, Sale allowed a solo home run to Jefry Marte. It’s the 23rd homer the lefty has allowed, tying a career-high. Sale entered the start carrying a career-high 3.48 ERA after finishing at 2.17 last season.
PITTSBURGH — The St. Louis Cardinals placed outfielder Lars Nootbaar on the 10-day injured list Friday with a lower-back contusion.
The move was retroactive to Tuesday, a day after Nootbaar collided with the outfield wall in St. Louis during a 7-0 loss to Kansas City. Nootbaar is hitting .266 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in 42 games for St. Louis.
The injury is the latest in a series of setbacks for the Cardinals outfield. Tyler O'Neill has been out since May 5 with a lower back injury and Dylan Carlson is still recovering from a sprained left ankle sustained on May 14. Carlson is expected to start a rehab assignment early next week.
St. Louis recalled 21-year-old outfielder Jordan Walker from Triple-A Memphis to fill Nootbaar’s roster spot.
Walker hit .274 with two home runs in 20 games with the Cardinals earlier in the season, a stretch that included a 12-game hitting streak to begin his career.