When the Boston Red Sox traded lefty starter Chris Sale to the Atlanta Braves this offseason, not many imagined he would turn back the clock to his pre-injury self.
However, through seven starts, he looks pretty good. That includes his first start against his former team on Wednesday.
Sale pitched six scoreless innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out a season-high 10 batters.
Two of Boston’s top offensive options had no answers for Sale and the two pitchers who came in after him, as Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu both struck out three times. The only player in the Red Sox lineup who didn’t strike out on the night was catcher Connor Wong, who finished the game 2-for-4.
Wednesday was also the return of Nick Pivetta to the mound for Boston after a month off due to an elbow injury. He appeared to be a bit rusty, allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk, including three home runs.
The Red Sox are now just one game above .500 and just a half-game above the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East. They’ll have a day off on Thursday before they take on the Washington Nationals.
