Sale enjoys pitching a simulated game on day off

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Spring training results are rarely predictive of regular-season success. Day games in smaller ballparks between lineups sprinkled with minor leaguers offer only a snapshot.

But for Chris Sale, even simulated games in empty ballparks at 10 a.m. while the rest of the team has the day off are meaningful after missing most of the previous three seasons because of injuries.

“It’s very freeing,” said the Red Sox lefthander, who worked five innings and threw 80 pitches Thursday. “I’m having fun. Your start day lands on the off day and a lot of guys would be like, ‘Arrgh.’ This is fun for me.”

Sale faced four minor league hitters without any fielders behind him. Connor Wong was his catcher and Nick Pivetta sat in a seat behind the plate and served as the umpire.

Pivetta relied on a tablet that conveyed balls and strikes from the ABS system installed at Jetblue Park. Still, his calls seemed a bit slanted toward his fellow pitcher.

“We need Nick to umpire all our games,” pitching coach Dave Bush said.

The crowd, such as it was, included manager Alex Cora, a few team executives, four media types, and Sale’s father, Allen.

“If you ask him, I’m the nastiest guy on the planet,” Sale said.

The hitters who faced him would not disagree. Sale struck out nine without a walk and allowed one run on six hits. Or maybe five depending on your interpretation.

Yoshida helps Japan:

Masataka Yoshida was 1 for 3 with a home run and two RBIS as Japan beat Italy, 9-3, in a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game in Tokyo. Sal Frelick was 0 for 5 for Italy. The outfielder out of Lexington High and Boston College hit .304 over five games with three doubles and four RBIS. … With their WBC teams eliminated, Jorge Alfaro, Richard Bleier, and Rafael Devers should be back at Fenway South in the coming days.