BALTIMORE -- The Chicago White Sox shut down the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 on Thursday in the first game of a doubleheader.

How it happened: Chris Sale was dominating in Thursday’s doubleheader opener, delivering 12 strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings. In was the second consecutive game Sale had reached double digits in strikeouts and the third time in his past four starts. The White Sox scored twice in the sixth inning, once on a Melky Cabrera double and again on an Adam LaRoche double.

What it means: Sale’s success was helped by throwing more sliders than normal this season. Entering the game he had thrown his slider just 11 percent of the time, the lowest number of his career. But all of Sale’s pitches were working well. He threw 85 of his 120 pitches for strikes. The White Sox had been limiting Sale’s use of the slider for preservation purposes since he had dealt with early eason arm soreness in each of his first three seasons in the rotation.

Outside the box: With his 12 strikeouts, Sale reached double-digits for the 21st time, extending his club record. It was also his 11th game with 12 or more strikeouts, the most in baseball since the start of the 2012 season. In addition, it was the fifth time Sale has delivered an outing with no walks and at least 10 strikeouts.

Off beat: Without closer David Robertson, who pitched each of the previous two days at Toronto, the White Sox first went to set-up man Zach Duke. When Duke gave up a two-run home run to the Orioles' Chris Davis in the ninth inning, Jake Petricka was called on to get the save. Robertson pitched two innings Wednesday against the Blue Jays, first blowing a save and then getting the victory when the White Sox’s offense scored twice in the 10th inning.

Up next: The White Sox will send right-hander Chris Beck to the mound in the second game of Thursday’s doubleheader to make his major league debut. The Orioles will counter with right-hander Mike Wright (1-0, 0.00).