Houston Astros' Justin Verlander, Chicago White Sox's Dylan Cease each surrender 3 runs in Cy Young showdown

CHICAGO — The American League Cy Young race probably didn't alter much on Tuesday, as both Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander and his top competitor for the honor — Chicago White Sox righty Dylan Cease — each gave up three runs in the White Sox's eventual 4-3 victory.

«I was disappointed,» Cease said despite the team win. «It wasn't my sharpest outing but [the game] was close enough to keep us in it, then everyone else picked me up.»

For the second night in a row, White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada drove in the winning run with an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth.

Neither starter was around for a decision in the game. Verlander, 39, lasted seven innings, while Cease, 26, went only five. Cease gave up three runs on six hits and three walks, the first time in his past 15 outings he has given up more than one earned run.

Verlander had a 3-1 lead in the seventh, but pinch hitter Gavin Sheets doubled home the tying runs on a 1-2 pitch not long after Verlander issued his first walk of the night, to catcher Seby Zavala.

«Don't like giving up runs, especially in a situation late like that,» Verlander told reporters. «It wasn't a horrible pitch [to Sheets]. It was on the inner half, off the plate a little bit. Usually guys pull that foul. Little frustrated.»

Said Sheets: «First and second, I want to get the ball in the air. My main thought was get something in the air and get something in the strike zone. I was able to do that.»

Cease saw his ERA go up for the first time since May 24 — a span of 14 starts, the longest for a starting pitcher since 2019. While leading 1-0 in the third, he gave up RBI doubles to Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker; then in the fifth, Jose Altuve hit a solo shot to lead off the inning.

«They're one