Sale continues dominant stretch with 13 Ks vs. Blue Jays
It's a fire sale and everyone must go.
Chris Sale extended his string of dominance on the mound Thursday against the Blue Jays, becoming the first Boston Red Sox starter ever to strike out 13 batters in Toronto, according to Red Sox Notes.
Additionally, Sale is the only pitcher in team history to allow fewer than five hits in his first four starts, per Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.
On top of breaking strikeout records in Toronto, the 28-year-old stud became the first Red Sox starter to rack up 12-plus strikeouts in consecutive outings since Pedro Martinez in 2001, according to Evan Drellich of CSN New England. It's also the 28th time in major-league history a starting pitcher has struck out 13 hitters on 102 pitches or fewer.
Of those pitches, 80 were strikes. In the second and third innings combined, Sale threw just 20 pitches - 17 strikes, no balls - and only three balls were put in play.
The left-hander took a while to heat up last season - he didn't record 10 or more strikeouts in a start until Aug. 3. He's fanned 10 or more in three of his first four starts with the Red Sox, according to Jared Carrabis of Barstool Sports.
After Thursday's performance, Sale has 42 strikeouts on the season and has only issued six walks.