Making his first start since May 9, designated hitter Jerry Sands gave the White Sox an early lead Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Field.
Sands’ RBI single off Astros’ right-hander Collin McHugh in the second inning gave the Sox a 1-0 lead. Sands drove in Todd Frazier, who singled and stole second base.
Chris Sale was trying to become the first White Sox pitcher since 1919 to win each of his first nine starts of the season. Sale went 8-0 with a 1.67 ERA over his first eight starts, joining four other Sox pitchers who won eight straight starts to open a year -- Eddie Cicotte (12, 1919), John Whitehead (8, 1935) and Jon Garland (8, 2005).