For the second time in three days, I saw a pitcher flirt with a perfect game and end up with a complete game, one hit shutout facing one batter over the minimum.

On Friday, I saw Boston Red Sox southpaw Jon Lester throw a one-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays. If not for giving up a double to Macier Itzuris in the sixth inning, Lester would have been perfect.

Forty eight hours later, Chicago White Sox lefty Chris Sale took a perfect game into the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels when Mike Trout hit a single up the middle just out of the range of White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez. The only other baserunner Sale allowed was on an error by Ramirez which allowed Angels catcher Chris Iannetta to reach base. But Angels DH Luis Jimenez hit into a double play. Moments later Angels third baseman Alberto Callaspo flied out to right to end the game. Chisox won 3-0. It was Sale’s first career shutout and second career complete game.

Like Lester, Sale seemed to be able to put the ball wherever he wanted and seemed to get stronger as the game went on. Five of Sale’s seven strikeouts came between the sixth and eighth innings. 

Sale, who went 17-8 with a 3.05 ERA in 2012, is only going to get better. But as it stands now, I am sold on Chris Sale.