Chris Sale defends White Sox manager Robin Ventura

Three weeks ago, the Chicago White Sox had a six-game lead in the AL Central Division. They woke up Sunday in third place, listening to cries for manager Robin Ventura's head.

Ace Chris Sale wants that talk to stop.

"I don't think he gave up any runs," Sale said. "I don't think he made any errors, and he's in the dugout the whole time. It's on us to win games. I understand people -- I'll keep it that -- want to point fingers and find blame. But at the end of the day, it falls on the players. We have to find a way to turn it around. We're going to keep fighting. It will turn. We have too much morale, chemistry and too much talent. Just a rough patch."

The White Sox's struggles continued Monday against someone else who was feeling the heat. New York Mets starter Matt Harvey, who was 3-7 with a 6.08 ERA entering Monday's games, stymied the White Sox lineup in a 1-0 Mets victory.

There had been talk of dropping Harvey from the Mets' rotation, but he was dominant Monday, pitching seven scoreless innings while striking out six and walking just one batter.

The White Sox have now lost seven in a row and 15 of 19 games after a start that had people talking about an all-Chicago World Series against the red-hot Cubs.

What a rough patch it's been. On Sunday, Sale left after seven innings with a two-run lead. The Kansas City Royals scored three runs in the eighth to win.

White Sox closer David Robertson wasn't available because he had thrown 29 pitches while giving up six runs in Saturday's debacle. Chicago led 7-1 with one out in the bottom of the ninth before blowing that game.

That loss came after the White Sox led 5-2 in the seventh inning of the opener and ended up losing 7-5.

Ventura said all the right things Sunday when asked if he was feeling any added pressure.

"Not any more pressure than there already is," he said. "That's just part of the job, and you do it."