Sale returns from DL to strike out 12 as Red Sox sweep

Uncomfortable watching his teammates play without him and uncertain how he would fare after spending two weeks on the disabled list, Chris Sale was both excited and curious as he prepared to pitch again for the Boston Red Sox.

Turns out, Sale was just as dominant as ever — maybe even more so.

Sale celebrated his return by striking out 12 in five shutout innings of one-hit ball, and the Red Sox moved 50 games above .500 by completing a sweep of the lowly Baltimore Orioles with a 4-1 victory on Sunday.

Sale (12-4) was placed on the DL on July 28 with left shoulder inflammation. Judging by his performance, the injury is no longer an issue.

“You never really know what you’re going to get until you get out there,” the left-hander said. “I felt good and I felt strong.”

Sale allowed just a clean, third-inning single to left field by Renato Nunez, and walked none.

MARINERS SWEEP ASTROS >> Ryon Healy hit a tying home run with two outs in the ninth inning, Mitch Haniger delivered an RBI double in the 10th, and the Seattle Mariners beat Houston 4-3 to sweep a fourgame series from the AL Westleading Astros. It’s the first time in franchise history that Seattle swept a four-game series from the Astros. The third-place Mariners pulled within four games of Houston. In the 10th, Dee Gordon easily scored on Haniger’s double that skipped down the left-field line. GRAND SLAM IN 9TH LIFTS CUBS >> Pinch-hitter David Bote smashed a grand slam against Ryan Madson (2-5) with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Chicago Cubs to a 4-3 victory over visiting Washington. Bote’s long drive to center field came after Washington’s Max Scherzer and Chicago’s Cole Hamels delivered simply dominant starts.