Chris Sale remained winless after five starts but managed not to take a loss for the first time this year, allowing two runs over five innings as the Red Sox lost to the Detroit Tigers 7-4 in a doubleheader opener Tuesday.
Sale struck out a season-high 10, walked two and gave up five hits, lowering his ERA from 8.50 to 7.43. The 30-year-old, who signed a $160 million, six-year contract late in spring training, had never gone his first five starts in a big league season without a victory. He won his first nine starts with the Chicago White Sox in 2016.