ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Dylan Cease pitched six strong innings following a relatively rough start, Eloy Jimenez hit a tiebreaking solo home run and the Chicago White Sox beat the Texas Rangers 2-1 on Friday night.
The first start in August for Cease (12-4) resembled those of the past eight weeks, when he was selected the AL pitcher of the month for June and July. He gave up a run and two hits to lower his earned run average to 1.98, second in the AL, and won his fifth straight start.
Cease hasn’t given up more than one earned run in any of his last 13 starts. It’s the longest such stretch since the ERA entered baseball in 1913, breaking a tie with Jacob deGrom’s 12-game run last season.
“It’s definitely the best I’ve ever pitched,” Cease said. “I’m happy to be giving us a chance, and I hope to keep it going.”
Cease hasn’t allowed more than one run in a game since June 9, when he was tagged for six unearned runs.
He gave up a first-inning run on back-to-back two-out walks and an opposite-field RBI single by Adolis Garcia. He had not allowed a first-inning run since July 2.
Cease didn’t allow a hit after Bubba Thompson’s second-inning single. He struck out five and walked three, one after the first inning. After throwing 45 pitches in the first two innings, he threw 46 over the next four and was pulled at 91.
“We saw a different side of Dylan Cease,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “What did he have 40 pitches through two innings and pitched through the sixth? The young man continues to impress, amaze, whatever.”
Chicago tied the score 1-1 in the third beginning with a four-pitch leadoff walk to Yasmani Grandal, who came in on an 0-for-21 slump. Grandal advanced to third on Josh Harrison’s single that glanced off the glove of second baseman Marcus Semien and…
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