Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox’s ace pitcher, won his first game since 2019 in the team’s 6-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The win was backed by a career-high nine strikeouts and just one walk.
The chris sale is a pitcher who has been in the MLB since 2009. On his first start back from injury, he won in impressive fashion.
BOSTON (CBS) — Chris Sale wanted to savor every moment. He has a fresh perspective on his major league career.
The Boston Red Sox, boosted by Sale’s first big league appearance in two years, pounded Baltimore 16-2 on Saturday, giving the Orioles their 10th consecutive defeat.
“I knew there was going to be something as I walked out of the dugout. I wasn’t anticipating something like that “Sale remarked. “I was just trying to take it all in. This will not continue indefinitely.”
Sale, 32, pitched five innings in his comeback from Tommy John surgery, allowing two runs in the third inning on consecutive homers by Austin Hays and Trey Mancini. To get the victory, the lanky left-hander relied mainly on his fast slider, striking out eight and walking none.
Sale remarked, “Today was a wonderful day for me and a lot of other people.” “As I already said, this game was torn from my grasp. For two years, I had a hole in my chest. To be honest, I used to take days for granted…. Throughout it all, my viewpoint has shifted dramatically. I’ll tell you one thing: I’m not going to waste another day in the big leagues.”
For the first time since August 13, 2019, Chris Sale took the mound for the Red Sox. Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Rich Gagnon
With a three-run homer in the first inning against Jorge Lopez, Rafael Devers got Boston off to a quick start (3-13). During a seven-run fifth inning, J.D. Martinez blasted a three-run homer for the Red Sox, and Bobby Dalbec added a single drive — immediately after Sale departed to a standing ovation.
An inning later, Dalbec blasted his second solo home run, and Hunter Renfroe added one in the eighth.
Manager Alex Cora welcomed Sale (1-0) with a handshake and then an embrace as he completed the fifth.
“Man,” Cora remarked, “that was a wonderful sensation.” “It’s been a long since I’ve felt like that.” I know ’19 was a slog for him, from spring training until the end of the season.
“I’ll never forget that moment [today] when we returned to the clubhouse.”
Before Saturday’s game, Sale was reinstated off the 60-day disabled list. He last pitched in the majors on Aug. 13, 2019. The seven-time All-Star had surgery on March 30, 2020, his 31st birthday, and missed last year’s pandemic-shortened season.
On a sweltering day at Fenway Park, Sale’s comeback produced an electrifying atmosphere. He was welcomed with applause as he went to the bullpen to warm up. Many spectators jostled for a good view, attempting to get close to the bullpen, and were snapping pictures and videos with their cellphones, cheering almost every throw. When he was through, Sale hugged catcher Christian Vazquez before shaking hands with the rest of the team and heading to the dugout to a standing ovation.
“I’m not sure I felt a single step out to the bullpen. It was incredible, “Sale said.
When Hays foul tipped Sale’s 94.2 mph opening pitch, many of the spectators were on their feet.
“He was incredible. He was fantastic “Sale, Cora remarked. “What he went through, him working through the entire process and not feeling good about himself because he wasn’t able to contribute for the first time in his career, today was a great day for this organization.”
After making his debut Friday night, Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Kyle Schwarber was given the day off, with Cora stating, “We’ve got to take care of him.”
Schwarber had been sidelined with a strained right hamstring since July 2 and had been out for two weeks after being acquired from the Washington Nationals.
Schwarber will be in the lineup on Sunday and will play in at least one game of Tuesday’s doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, according to Cora.
This article was written with the help of the Associated Press.
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