Yankees light up Chris Sale, hand 9-2 defeat to Red Sox in Saturday matinee at Yankee Stadium
By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Chris Sale picked a bad time to have his worst start of the season.
The Yankees lit Sale up for eight runs, the lefty’s highest total of 2019, in a 9-2 Saturday matinee win over the Red Sox. New York took the first game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium.
First baseman D.J. LeMahieu did the most damage against Sale, homering in two of his first three at-bats. The American League MVP candidate led off the game with a shot to right-center field off Sale, then broke the game open when he slapped one over the 314-foot right field wall.
LeMahieu’s second blast came as part of a seven-run assault that chased Sale from the game.
The Red Sox hitters, meanwhile, struggled to get going against Yankees starter Domingo Germán. Solo homers by Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. were the only blemishes on Germán’s night, who held the Sox to two runs on five hits in seven innings.
Sale’s frustration boiled over as he was heading to the dugout after being pulled. He appeared to yell obscenities directed at home plate umpire Mike Eastabrook, who ejected Sale along with manager Alex Cora for arguing against what they saw as an inconsistent strike zone.
“Nothing’s going to happen to [Estabrook], I’m sure,” Sale told reporters after the game (via MassLive’s Chris Cotillo). “I’m sure I’ll get fined. I’m sure [Cora] will be fined. All for things that can be justified.”
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The Red Sox slid to 12 1/2 games back of the Yankees in the AL East with the loss. Brian Johnson opposes “opener” Chad Green in the nightcap of the double-header on Saturday night.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at [email protected].