Sale shines as White Sox edge Tigers, 2-1

CHICAGO _ It felt like April at U.S. Cellular Field Friday.tmpplchld It was cool, it was windy and Detroit Tigers right-hander Alfredo Simon was pitching well.tmpplchld In perhaps his final start with the team _ he is a free agent in the off-season _ Simon showed the ability that was on full display early in the season, spinning eight solid innings.tmpplchld But the Tigers offense couldn’t warm up against White Sox left-handed ace Chris Sale and they were sunk, 2-1, in the battle to stay out of the American League Central’s basement.tmpplchld Simon allowed two runs on five hits, striking out one and walking one over 94 pitches. It was Simon’s second complete game effort this season. Those two runs came on a third inning double to Adam Eaton.tmpplchld He was outdueled by Sale, who set the White Sox single-season strikeout record on a called third strike to James McCann in the fourth inning.tmpplchld Sale, who closed his 2015 campaign with 274 strikeouts, went seven innings, allowing one run on five hits. He walked one and struck out seven.tmpplchld His only blemish on the day was a solo home run allowed to Jefry Marte in the second inning. It was Marte’s fourth home run of the season and came on a line drive to leftfield.tmpplchld David Robertson saved the game with a three-up, three-down ninth inning for his 34th save of the season.tmpplchld Josh Wilson had two hits for the Tigers and Dixon Machado singled against Sale and made a spectacular play to end the eighth inning, ranging far to his right at shortstop and throwing across his body to retire Melky Cabrera.tmpplchld The three-game set continues on Saturday night, when Justin Verlander makes his final start of the season.tmpplchld ___tmpplchld (c)2015 Detroit Free Presstmpplchld Visit the Detroit Free Press at www.freep.comtmpplchld Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.tmpplchld