Last night the Red Sox lost a close game to the Tampa Bay Rays by a score of 3-2. The game was not a total waste however, as long time Red Sox ace made his debut in the 2022 season after several games with the minor league affiliate Paw Sox.
Sale would pitch 5 full innings, giving up 3 hits and 0 runs. His performance gives a lot of hope to the Red Sox faithfuls that's have been waiting for him for this performance better part of two seasons.
Sale's return to the mound was hindered at the beginning of the season by a stress fracture in his ribs that sidelined him for almost 3 months. This coming after his injury-riddled 2021 season after coming back from Tommy John surgery.
Unfortunately for the returning Sale, the Red Sox bullpen could not maintain the 2-run lead he left the game with, and in the next inning a mixture of Ryan Brazier and Matt Strahm would give up 3 runs immediately that would lead to their 2-3 loss.
Sale is now firmly cemented as the Sox ace, and will look to continue the success of his first start through the next few weeks. The key will be for the Sox to continue his rehabilitation by not rushing him. In his first outing he threw 78 pitches in 5 innings, a great start and one that will allow him to build off of while not exerting his arm too much.
His next expected start will be this Saturday the 16th in New York against the Yankees. The last time Sale pitched at Yankee Stadium was August 3rd 2019 where he gave up 8 runs in 3.2 innings. After the Yankees just beat the Sox 3-1 in Boston just last week, the Sox will rely on Sale to give them the boost they needed to get back on track and finish the season strong.
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-Z.D.