Boston Red Sox: Chris Sale ‘one stupid pitch’ away from mastery
Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale was dominant again in Sunday night’s 3-2, 10-inning victory over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
He didn’t earn his 15th victory, but Boston Red Sox lefty Chris Sale was once again dominant in the rubber game of the three-game series against the New York Yankees.
Without much run support, Sale stepped on the mound and blew away his competition. Much like his previous start, the lefty took a shutout deep into the game. He only allowed four hits, struck out twelve, had great command, but made one bad pitch that ended his night with a no decision.
In the bottom of the seventh, Sale gave up a two-out RBI triple to Austin Romine that tied the game.
"“I felt really good, I felt this was probably some of the best command and stuff I’ve had at the same time,” Sale said following the game, via The Boston Herald. “Like I always say and like I’ve always done all year, just relying on Sandy (Leon, his catcher) back there to guide me through that. Other than just one stupid bad pitch, we were pretty solid tonight.”"
In just giving up the one run in seven innings, Sale did let one get away in giving up the big hit to the No. 9 hitter. It was a pitch Sale said he let hang just a little that almost cleared the ballpark. Good thing for the Red Sox that it didn’t.
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The team came back to tie the game in the top of the ninth on an opposite-field blast off the bat of rookie Rafael Devers. The Red Sox eventually took care of the Yankees in the 10th on a game-winning RBI delivered by Andrew Benintendi.
A flare for the dramatics
The dramatics in the late inning overshadowed Chris Sale’s dominance on the mound, but such has become expected of the Cy Young candidate. Most importantly, the solid pitching has become a staple against the Yankees.
Sale has posted a whopping 1.18 ERA against the pin stripes in 13-career starts. He has lost a couple of games in those starts, including one this season, but the Yankees will have a tough time beating the Red Sox ace.
Yankees rookie Aaron Judge summed up the team’s frustration in facing Sale and losing a game the team could’ve still won.
"“Every loss is tough, especially how we were battling tonight, fighting, going up against Chris Sale – the best pitcher in the game right now,” Judge said, via MLB.com. It was a grind. We just weren’t able to come up with it in the end.”"
Next: Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale could contend for AL MVP
The Red Sox are now 5 ½ games ahead of the AL East rivals following the exciting series.