Chris Sale Strikes Out 13 Rays as Red Hot Red Sox Win 7th Straight

The Boston Red Sox are beginning to get some breathing room in the tight American League East race thanks in no small part to the play of pitcher Chris Sale. The left hander was already one of the top starting pitchers in baseball when the Red Sox traded four minor league prospects to the Chicago White Sox for him last December, and he’s paid immediate dividends.

Sale took the mound on August 8th for the Red Sox game with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. In eight innings, he gave up no runs, two hits, and one walk, while striking out 13 as Boston won 2-0 for its seventh straight win. At the close of play on the 8th, the Red Sox had a four game lead over second place New York.

The victory was Sale’s 14th of the season against four losses. His 14 wins lead the American League, as does is 2.57 ERA; his 229 strikeouts lead the majors. He’s probably the leading candidate for the American League Cy Young Award, but Red Sox fans may be hesitant about that. Last year’s Cy Young winner, fellow Boston pitcher Rick Porcello. Porcello had a career year in 2016, going 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA. It’s a little different this season; Porcello is 5-14 with a 4.70 ERA.