Chris Sale runs hot, performs cold as 2016 win streak ends

12:41 AM ET

CHICAGO — In Tuesday night’s 6-2 loss to the Cleveland Indians any suggestion that Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale was going to raise his record to 10-0 on the season was quickly dispelled by what might rank as the most arduous inning of his career, and perhaps one of the worst. Sale did not get out of the fourth inning, recording just 10 outs while surrendering six runs and 11 baserunners.

Sale had cruised through the Indians’ batting order the first time through, striking out five batters while throwing noticeably harder, throwing 11 fastballs clocked 95 miles per hour or faster. You could already anticipate how Sale’s perfect 10 to open the season was going to spring from his fingertips, conjured up by the magic his arm has spoiled the White Sox with for six seasons.

Except that wasn’t what happened. That’s because in the third inning — after Sale had used just five pitches to get his first two outs — Indians superutilityman Jose Ramirez delivered the at-bat that would start the busting of Sale’s streak. It took Ramirez 10 pitches and laying off Sale’s slider for three of those balls to get aboard with a walk.

The next four Indians would all reach base, with Mike Napoli’s triple — a fly ball lined to left that dropped between center fielder Austin Jackson and left fielder Melky Cabrera — responsible for breaking the frame wide open and cashing in on the opportunity Ramirez created. If Sale’s fastball had been sizzling earlier, it had lost much of that zip in that third inning.

Jose Ramirez’s crucial 10-pitch at-bat vs, Chris Sale in the third inning. ESPN

“They had some good at-bats against him, they got to a …

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