- Hal Steinbrenner says Alex Rodriguez is "a great player" an

CHICAGO -- Chris Sale knew he wasnt going the distance anyway. Even so, he felt a sense of relief when he finally gave up that hit -- the only one he allowed. Sale retired 18 of 19 batters over six scoreless innings in his return from an arm injury, and the Chicago White Sox beat the New York Yankees 3-2 on Thursday night. The left-hander retired the first 17 hitters after missing more than a month because of a flexor strain in his pitching arm, and Chicago hung on after New Yorks Mark Teixeira singled in two runs against Ronald Belisario in the ninth. The White Sox couldnt have asked for more of their ace. An All-Star the past two seasons, Sale (4-0) struck out 10 and didnt even come close to allowing a runner until Zoilo Almonte -- a .167 hitter entering the game -- lined a single to centre with two out in the sixth. Sale then struck out Jacoby Ellsbury and called it a night after throwing 86 pitches. "I dont think I was ever more excited to give up a hit in my life," he said. "(Manager Robin Ventura) said the same thing, You picked a bad night to do something like that. It was all in fun, we were just joking around." Sale would have been finished after six, perfect game or not. The White Sox werent about to stretch their best pitcher after about a five-week layoff, and he insisted he would not have lobbied to stay in even if it was still going. "We have a plan," Sale said. "We have something set in stone. I pitch to win. I dont pitch for no-hitters or perfect games. I would have fully understood. I wouldnt have liked it, but do I respect it? Absolutely." Zach Putnam retired the side in the seventh, and Daniel Webb worked a perfect eighth before Belisario nearly blew it in the ninth. He gave up a one-out single to pinch hitter Ichiro Suzuki and walked Derek Jeter. After the runners moved up on a passed ball, Teixeira drove them in with a single up the middle. Belisario then struck out Alfonso Soriano looking at a 3-2 pitch up and in for his second save in three attempts. "I know the umpire, they have a tough job, its not easy being an umpire," Soriano said. "That ball is up and in. I never said anything to the umpire, but that pitch is a ball." He said he saw a replay and added: "Its a bad call, but nothing you can do." David Phelps (1-1) was a tough-luck loser for New York, allowing two runs over seven innings. He struck out eight and walked one. But one rough inning was the difference. The White Sox scored two with two out in the second on an RBI double by Alejandro De Aza and run-scoring single by Adam Eaton to go up 2-0. Chicago added to the lead in the eighth, when Gordon Beckham led off with a double high off the right-field wall against Alfredo Aceves and scored on Adam Dunns two-out single, and that was enough for the win. Sale had the Yankees lunging and looking at pitches on the corner and at the knees, doing everything but make solid contact. He struck out the side in the first and third innings along with the first two batters in the fourth -- not bad for a guy who hadnt pitched since April 17. In that game, Sale tossed one-hit ball over seven innings against Boston. He felt sore the next day after throwing 127 pitches and wound up going on the disabled list on April 22. "I dont think theres anybody he can go up against where we feel like were behind the eight-ball going in or were the underdogs," Paul Konerko said. "Theres definitely some pitchers in the league that have the same type of ring to their name and the same type of makeup and stuff. But were just fortunate weve got one of them." NOTES: Yankees manager Joe Girardi said RHP Michael Pineda, recovering from a back injury, will throw to hitters on Saturday. "Hes progressing like we want," Girardi said. "Everythings going according to plan." Pineda was suspended 10 days for having pine tar on his neck in a game at Boston and then injured a muscle in his upper back pitching a simulated game April 29, during his ban. ... Girardi also said he thinks reliever Shawn Kelley will "try to do something next week." The right-hander had a setback in his recovery from a back injury when he woke up feeling stiff Tuesday after playing catch at Yankee Stadium the previous day. Enrique Hernandez Youth Jersey . The CFL club is making the move after holding its camp and regular-season practices at the University of Toronto campus in Mississauga, Ont. Kirk Gibson Womens Jersey . The rookie is rewarding their faith with a stellar first season. MacKinnon had a goal and two assists, Jamie McGinn had two goals and an assist, and Colorado beat the Buffalo Sabres 7-1 on Saturday. http://www.ladodgersprostore.us/Hyun-Jin-Ryu-dodgers-jersey/ . The Bulls seem to be getting along fine without him. D.J. Augustin scored 27 points in a start for Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson matched a career high with 26 filling in for Carlos Boozer as the Bulls improved to 7-2 since trading the popular Deng with a 98-87 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Jackie Robinson Dodgers Jersey . According to Yahoo! Sports, the team has reached a five-year deal to play their home games on the roof of the Plaza Hotel and Casino. Julio Urias Womens Jersey . -- Hal Steinbrenner says Alex Rodriguez is "a great player" and "obviously an asset," but the New York Yankees managing general partner wouldnt discuss the third basemans possible return to the team following a season-long suspension.MANAMA, Bahrain -- Mercedes engines led the way at Formula One preseason testing as Kevin Magnussen of McLaren topped the time sheets on Thursday. Magnussen lapped the desert Sakhir Circuit in 1 minute, 34.910 seconds to edge Nico Hulkenberg of Force India -- which also used the German manufacturers engine -- by over half a second. Fernando Alonso of Ferrari was third with 1:36.516, in front of Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg.dddddddddddd Valtteri Bottas of Williams rounded out the top five. Red Bulls tepid preseason continued with four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel finishing with a seventh-best lap of 1:40.340 thanks to a Renault engine. Vettel says "we did more laps (59) than we have done so far and thats the big thing." The season begins on March 16 at the Australian Grand Prix. ' ' '