July 03--Amid one of the best strikeout stretches in major-league history, Chicago White Sox left-hander Chris Sale has been named the American League Pitcher of the Month for June.
Sale went 2-2 with a 1.83 ERA with 75 strikeouts over 44 1/3 innings pitched in June. Since May 23, he has struck out at least 10 in eight consecutive starts, a feat matched only by Pedro Martinez in 1999. He has the chance to capture the record for himself in his next start.
It is Sale's -- and the Sox's -- first monthly pitcher's award since May 2012.
Sale broke Juan Pizarro's franchise monthly record of 61 strikeouts set in August 1961. His 75 strikeouts were also the most in the majors in a month since Nolan Ryan recorded 87 in June 1977.
"It's stuff you don't think about that often," Sale said Tuesday after striking out 12 against the Cardinals. "It's stuff you think about when you are a kid and stuff. There's a time and a place for that stuff and it's not now, not here. In the offseason maybe we'll kick it around a little bit but I still have a job to do."
