Boston Red Sox: Chris Sale ‘Special’ in Fenway Park Debut
Boston Red Sox left-handed pitcher Chris Sale made his debut Wednesday night and was everything as advertised.
Fans at Fenway Park were delivered a treat on Wednesday night. Newly-acquired lefty Chris Sale didn’t get the victory in the Boston Red Sox 3-0 12-inning victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, but his dominance made the victory even more pleasant.
Sale was simply electrifying on the mound in his Red Sox debut. Through seven innings, he delivered seven strikeouts, allowed just three hits and a walk in a performance that catcher Sandy Leon described as “nasty.”
He didn’t get any run support, which made the pitching effort even more impressive for fans, teammates and manager John Farrell who complimented Sale on the way he was able to mix up his three pitches in attaching the strike zone.
"“You love the way Chris Sale goes about his work,” Farrell said following the game, via Masslive.com. “The tempo in which he keeps. The attack of the strike zone. Three quality pitches for strikes tonight. He had very good stuff. I’m not going to say he wasn’t challenged because they put up some quality at-bats but he was able to minimize any baserunners and the guys that came in behind him, they too did their job extremely well.”"
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Overall, Mr. Sale came exactly as advertised. His 69 strikes in 104 pitches told the tale of a pitcher very much in control of the mound and the plate. It was just one start, but the fact that he was dominant in a park he has struggled is a good indication that pitching half his games at Fenway Park will not be a problem.
Sale left the mound to a standing ovation, which he described at “Special.” He also credited Leon with for his success.
"“I felt like I was able to throw all my pitches for strikes,” Sale told reporters. “Not only that but ahead in the count, behind in the count, off-speed stuff. Credit goes to Sandy though. He was the one calling the pitches. I was just the one throwing them. When you can have confidence in the guy behind the plate like that, it’s huge.”"
The moment and the night was very huge for a pitcher left a great impression on a sports city that can be tough on stars who don’t come as advertised.
Next: Chris Sale Shines In Boston Red Sox Debut, Sandy Leon Delivers First Walk Off of 2017
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