Sox for you
Sale on 10-day DL, again
Chris Sale understands it’s a perfect time for the Boston Red Sox to be cautious with his troublesome shoulder.
He’s just frustrated that he’s back on the disabled list.
Boston returned the ace lefty to the 10-day disabled list Saturday after just one healthy start. He was already on the DL earlier this month with what the team called mild shoulder inflammation.
Last Sunday, he was acti- vated against the Baltimore Orioles and struck out 12 in five shutout innings, which extended his scoreless innings streak to 28. He is 12-4 with an AL-leading 1.97 ERA and 6-0 with a 0.20 ERA in his last seven starts.
“It’s definitely less than it was last time,” he said, standing in the middle of the clubhouse before Boston’s scheduled game against Tampa Bay. “It didn’t bounce back, wasn’t really responding the way we wanted it to. Given kind of where we are, it was kind of right call to give it some rest and stay on top of it. You don’t want to be playing catch up during a time like this.”
With Boston holding a big lead in the AL East and the best record in the majors, Sale will get some rest for what the team hopes will be a long postseason run.
RONALDO DEBUTS FOR JUVE
A smile, a wink and a thumbs-up: Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t seem too perturbed at not scoring in his Juventus debut.
The 33-year-old forward appeared relaxed after Saturday’s 3-2 victory against Chievo Verona and, although Ronaldo did not stop to speak to reporters, he responded with those gestures when asked how he felt his debut had gone.
His coach wasn’t too troubled, either.
“Cristiano Ronaldo had a good game. He had several shots on goal. Today he didn’t score because clearly it was written somewhere that he wouldn’t score,” said Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri with a smile.
NOT DJOK-ING AROUND
Novak Djokovic closed in on the one title that has eluded him, reaching the final of the Western & Southern Open on Saturday with a three-set victory over Marin Cilic.
His 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory moved him one away from the only ATP Masters 1000 title he’s never claimed. Djokovic is trying to become the first to win all nine events since the series started in 1990.