Chris Sale strikes out seven in rehab start with the Portland Sea Dogs
Chris Sale is inching closer to returning to the Red Sox. The left-handed hurler pitched for the Portland Sea Dogs on Thursday night. Sale threw 52 pitches, 36 of them for strikes.
The 6-foot-6 lefty struck out seven over four innings. Sale allowed one run on four hits and did not issue a walk.
All signs are encouraging as Sale comes back from a stress fracture in his rib cage.
"Today went well. Honestly, I was expecting to go back out [for the fifth]," he said. "If they told me I was starting [for the Red Sox] five days from now, I would be excited for that. If I can get through five, six innings and be like I was today, I think I'd be ready to go. But my hands are off the wheels."
Sale threw the ball at 95 mph a few times and topped out at 96 mph. He worked in his slider and changeup. The changeup has been a pitch Sale has been working on this offseason.
"The two things I needed to work on coming into this year were arm strength and that third pitch. I need that," he said.
Sale will continue to work to get back to Boston and hopes to do so in the near future. It is likely his next start will come next week with Triple-A Worcester, according to MassLive’s Christopher Smith.
"That's what this whole process is for," Sale said. "I love being [in Maine]. I love the guys in Worcester. My boys down in Florida -- they know I love them. But this whole process is getting back to Boston and do what I need to do ... and help that team win."
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