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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sale back in the mix

Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale convinced his general manager to let Sale start again. (Associated Press)

Chris Sale made his pitch. Did he ever.

The Chicago White Sox’s young lefty convinced general manager Ken Williams that the discomfort he felt in his elbow was normal soreness and not pain from a major injury.

An MRI came out clean to back up his claim and on Friday the White Sox decided to put him back in the starting rotation, a week after he was sent to the bullpen as a precautionary measure. He’s scheduled to start today when they play Kansas City.

The team sent him to the bullpen May 4. He went 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA in five starts. After the switch, he pitched a game in relief and blew the save. Sale’s main point in his passionate plea to Williams was that his arm was just sore, not injured, and that’s why he asked for the MRI.

Sale, whose fastball has been clocked at 100 mph, will be monitored and Williams said there’s a chance he could skip starts.

Gunman walks past Hayes after shooting

Miami Marlins catcher Brett Hayes found himself caught in a turnpike traffic jam after a gunman shot and wounded two South Florida law enforcement officers.

And the gunman walked past Hayes’ car.

Hayes said he and his wife were en route to a birthday party during the Marlins’ off day Thursday when a traffic snarl in Hollywood left them barely moving. Hayes then spotted a man with a handgun in the median walking toward them.

“The guy was walking by our car, and I made eye contact with him,” Hayes said Friday. “I looked away nonchalantly and told my wife, ‘Don’t look at him,’ because it looked like he was obviously up to no good. Later I found out he had already shot two police officers.”

An officer carrying a handgun and wearing a bulletproof vest soon passed Hayes’ car in pursuit.

A short time later, the gunman killed himself.

Clearing the bases

The Yankees sent infielder Eduardo Nunez down to the minors and Eric Chavez was activated from the disabled list. … The Los Angeles Angels have purchased the contract of catcher John Hester from Triple-A Salt Lake the same day starting catcher Chris Iannetta underwent surgery on his broken right wrist. … The San Diego Padres have placed right-hander Joe Wieland on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right elbow and recalled infielder James Darnell from Triple-A Tucson.