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Boston Red Sox

WATCH: Chris Sale makes spring debut for Red Sox

By Ty Anderson

The 2023 spring training debut of Chris Sale went about as well as the Red Sox could have hoped.

On the mound and in game action for the first time since July 17 last year, Sale tossed two innings of shutout ball in what was a 7-1 victory for Alex Cora’s squad.

  • Over the course of his two-inning outing, the 33-year-old Sale delivered 31 pitches (24 of which were strikes), and struck out two batters while surrendering just two hits. Sale also had strong zip on his fastball, which hit 96 miles per hour at one point, and had good results with his slider.

    Again, not at all bad in what was the veteran lefty’s first tune-up of the spring slate.

  • “It was awesome,” Sale told NESN’s Jahmai Webster when asked about his first outing of the spring. “It took a long road. I mean, everyone knows what happened. I’m just really appreciative.”

    Sale also remained perfectly Sale when it came to his objectives in this two-inning showing.

    “Just compete again,” Sale told Webster about his goals coming into this outing. “When I’m in a game, I’m not working on anything. I’m working on competing, I’m working on winning. And that’s part of it. I just wanna get out there, get the juices flowing again, and just compete.”

  • Feb 22, 2021; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale warms up during the first day Spring Training for the full squad at Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers on Monday, February 22, 2021. Mandatory Credit: Andrew West/The News-Press-USA TODAY Sports

    Feb 22, 2021; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale warms up during the first day Spring Training for the full squad at Jet Blue Park in Fort Myers on Monday, February 22, 2021.  (Andrew West/The News-Press-USA TODAY Sports)

  • A clean bill of health for the 6-foot-6 Sale is an absolute must if the Red Sox are going to compete in 2023, and was a welcomed sight for the Sox, especially after the injury to James Paxton this past weekend.

    Derailed by various injuries last year, Sale pitched just 5.2 innings over two outings last season, and has pitched less than 49 innings since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2021.

    Sale has compiled a 40-25 record and posted a 3.09 ERA, along with 820 strikeouts, in 95 starts with the Red Sox since the start of the 2017 season.

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Ty Anderson is a writer and columnist for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Yell at him on Twitter: @_TyAnderson.

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