Sale puts stop to losing
Ace shuts down M’s, lifts up spiraling Sox
SEATTLE — When it’s time for MVP ballots to be cast at season’s end, a performance like the one Chris Sale turned in yesterday will keep the Red Sox lefthander in the conversation.
With the Red Sox on a four-game losing streak, and the offense averaging about three runs per game since the All-Star break, Sale took the pressure off the starting lineup.
Sale tossed seven scoreless innings against the Seattle Mariners, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out 11 as the Red Sox avoided a sweep and escaped Safeco Field with a 4-0 win.
“We’re watching one of the better years ever pitched by a major league pitcher in the American League,” manager John Farrell said. “And we’re fortunate it’s in our uniform.”
Given the circumstances, it might have been Sale’s most important start of the season.
“He doesn’t do anything different no matter what the situation we’re in, and that’s why he’s so good,” fellow starter Rick Porcello said. “I can’t even put into words how good he is. Obviously, he’s the best I’ve ever seen.”
Reminded he once played with Max Scherzer, Porcello’s answer did not change.
Sale saved the Red Sox from going back to Boston on a five-game losing streak and sending David Price to the mound tomorrow, after Price has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons this week.
But Sale understands his role. He knows how to be an ace. He’s been one his whole career.
“We know where we’re at, we know what we’ve done on this road trip,” Sale said. “It’s nice to come here and get the last one, especially going into an off day, a little positive momentum on the flight home. Take a deep breath (today) and (tomorrow) come in here ready to rock.”
Sale’s made 11 of his 21 starts immediately following losses, and the Red Sox have won eight of them.
Sale’s ERA in those games: 1.98.
“I’m sure some of that goes through his thought and preparation today,” Farrell said. “Still he’s such a competitor regardless if we’re on a four-game winning streak or losing streak, we’re going to get the same performance out of Chris, and it’s usually dominant.”
The Red Sox are 15-6 when Sale starts and 41-41 otherwise. They’re a .500 team without him.
The Mariners didn’t get a hit against him until the third inning, when Jean Segura doubled. Sale then struck out Ben Gamel and Nelson Cruz on seven pitches.
By the end of the third inning the Sox were up, 2-0.
A walk to Hanley Ramirez and a double by Jackie Bradley Jr. set up the first run, when Mitch Moreland hit a sacrifice fly to score Ramirez.
Rafael Devers extended the lead in the fourth inning with one of the prettiest swings the Red Sox have seen in weeks. Against Mariners starter Andrew Moore, Devers, the youngest player in the major leagues, connected on a 2-1 fastball to the outer part of the plate and crushed it well over the fence in left-center. It was his first major league hit.
The solo shot was registered at 427 feet. Ramirez is the only Red Sox hitter whose average home run travels farther.
Another double by Bradley and a line-drive home run by Sandy Leon — his first since June 23 — put the Red Sox on top, 4-0, in the fourth.
Craig Kimbrel relieved Blaine Boyer with one out and two on in the ninth and struck out two to end the game.
Sale hasn’t allowed a run since the All-Star break, throwing 202⁄ scoreless innings since then. He has pitched 14 games with at least 10 strikeouts, the most in a single season since 2002, when Randy Johnson had 15.
“He’s been huge for us,” Porcello said. “To right the ship after we’ve had some tough series or tough games, to come out there and do what he’s done has been a huge lift. He’s the reason why we haven’t taken long slides or anything like that, because he’s taken the ball every fifth day and doing what he’s doing.”