SAN DIEGO — Before Saturday night, Chris Sale had faced the San Diego Padres once in his career.
Back when he was a 25-year-old Chicago White Sox hurler, he’d pitched a 1-run complete game against them on June 1, 2014.
Almost exactly nine years later, the now-34-year-old dominated them again. Coming off the first and only 8-inning start by a Red Sox pitcher this season (and his longest since August 8, 2019), Sale went seven innings, struck out eight, and held the Padres to a pair of solo home runs.
Through four, Soto’s 409-ft blast was the only hit (and run) Sale gave up. The southpaw punished the slugger for it, too, getting him to strike out swinging on a 97.6 mph four-seamer to end the fourth.
A Chris Sale 98-mph K for your viewing pleasure. pic.twitter.com/2dg4M6HrN3
— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 21, 2023
Following the Soto homer, Sale sat down the next nine batters before beginning the fifth with a leadoff walk to Nelson Cruz. After issuing a one-out walk, the Padres had multiple runners on for the first time since the fourth inning the night before.
Sale managed to work his way out of trouble in the fifth, but began the sixth in immediate trouble. Fernando Tatis Jr. cut Boston’s lead to two with a 440-ft leadoff home run, and Ha-Seong Kim followed with a double.
Home runs were a problem for the lefty early in the season, but after giving up five round-trippers over his first three starts, he only allowed one over the subsequent five, before the two on Saturday night.
“That was big-time. You know, the wheels are turning there, obviously, crucial moment in the game,” Sale told reporters after the game.
Thanks to a day off on Thursday and Josh Winckowski’s finishing Friday’s game with three innings of relief work, the bullpen was well-rested and ready to go.
But for the second inning in a row, Sale got out of his own jam.
“With our bullpen, you can kind of just flip a coin and you know, pick a guy out there to just get out of that situation, but (pitching coach Dave Bush) came out, we kind of reset, got on the game plan, got an out,” Sale said, adding that his teammates coming in for a chat on the mound helped “calm me down and get me refocused on what I needed to do.”
Already at 98 pitches, it was surprising to see him back out for the seventh, which only made it more impressive when he mowed down the home team 1-2-3.
“It worked out. Obviously, I appreciate getting that leash,” he said of that unexpected last inning.
As usual, Sale was modest about his success, choosing instead to praise his catcher and the lineup.
“Connor (Wong) did a great job back there for me, just kinda, finding a groove and getting me through it,” he said appreciatively. “Obviously, when your offense gets on the board first, it kind of gives you that boost of energy you need. Overall, really, just good game by the guys.”
Sale isn’t the type to shower himself with praise, but his work lately deserves just that. This is his sixth consecutive start of at least five innings, and second consecutive start of at least seven. This is also the 9th consecutive game in which a Red Sox starter has recorded 5+ strikeouts and held the opposition to no more than 4 runs. He’s now thrown 110+ pitches in back-to-back starts after not reaching 100 in a game since coming back from Tommy John in August 2021.
He’s starting to look like a serious Comeback Player of the Year candidate.
On an unhappier note, Red Sox fans came from near and far to see their beloved former shortstop, but it’s been a difficult series for Xander Bogaerts. His 6-game hitting streak ended with an 0-for-4 performance on Friday, and after receiving his fifth career (and last Red Sox) Silver Slugger award pre-game, he went 0-for-4 again on Saturday. Other than the pair of home runs, the Padres collectively had one hit and three walks, and went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the diamond, this was the Red Sox’s 46th game of the season, and 38th time they’ve knocked the opposing starter out of the game before he could complete six innings. Joe Musgrove didn’t even take the mound in the 6th; the Padres’ starter struck out six, but gave up four runs on six hits and a walk. And that was without Justin Turner in the lineup; the infielder has three home runs and five RBI in 14 career at-bats against Musgrove, but Alex Cora kept him out of the lineup after he left Friday night’s game with knee discomfort.
While it wasn’t a particularly productive night at the plate, the Red Sox did enough. Enmanuel Valdez’s 3-run homer in the second put Boston on the board, and ultimately made the difference in the victory. After Raimel Tapia singled and Kiké Hernández took first on a hit-by-pitch, the former completed a double steal, then scored on Valdez’s 374-ft blast.
The Red Sox only scored once more (an RBI single by Alex Verdugo in the fourth), but thanks to the efforts of Sale, Chris Martin, and a shaky-but-successful Kenley Jansen, it was enough to cement their second consecutive series victory.