Sale puts perfect record on the line in Anaheim

(SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Sale will put his unblemished record on the line Saturday when he takes the mound for the Chicago White Sox against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.

The seemingly invincible Sale proved just how dominating he can be in his last start against the Padres, needing just 100 pitches to pick up a complete-game victory that saw him improve to 5-0 to go along with a 1.59 ERA.

Sale went the distance against the Padres in a 4-1 White Sox win. He surrendered one run on two hits and punched out nine strikeout victims for his fifth win in seven starts this season.

"I was trying to throw as many strikes as I could," Sale said about his last outing. "I knew this team was going to come out swinging. ... I was trying to keep the ball down and get after it a little bit."

He's also been nearly perfect against the Angels in his career, appearing in five games with three starts under his belt. Sale has allowed one run in that span with 28 strikeouts, five walks and a 0.38 ERA. The Angels can take some comfort in knowing that in four games Sale has started at night this season, he's given up four runs in 21 innings pitched.

Los Angeles, meanwhile, will send out Matt Shoemaker, who only pitched one inning in his last appearance out of the bullpen Tuesday against the Astros. Shoemaker gave up two hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts in that inning, which eventually resulted in an Angels loss, 7-2.

In four starts this season, Shoemaker has notched a 3-1 record with a 4.03 ERA and 28 strikeouts to just eight walks. His one loss has come at home, but his ERA is significantly lower when playing in Los Angeles - 2.35 to 5.93 on the road.

Every member of the Angels' lineup recorded at least one hit in Friday night's 8-4 win over the White Sox, who gave up on starting pitcher Andre Rienzo after 3 2/3 innings as he was rocked for seven runs and nine hits.

Jered Weaver picked up the win Friday, his seventh on the season, in a six- inning effort. Weaver gave up two runs on five hits and punched out nine batters.

Kole Calhoun collected two hits in the contest for the Angels - a first-inning home run and a two-run double later - and drove in three.

Adam Dunn had a solid game for the White Sox, collecting three hits (including a home run) and three RBI.

"Andre just couldn't stop them," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "We had opportunities, but Weaver kept us off-balance. He has a deceptive delivery. He makes it tough, especially against righties."

The Angels have now won eight of their last 11 against the White Sox.