BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale was perfectly happy to sit back and watch the Red Sox hitters do the work this time.
Sale cruised into the fifth inning, then was rewarded in the seventh when the Boston batters erupted for seven runs on their way to a 9-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.
Sale (5-2) struck out six, falling short in his attempt to become the first pitcher in baseball’s modern era to strike out at least 10 batters in nine straight games in one season.
But he didn’t seem to mind.
“It was fun,” said the left-hander, who received more runs of support in the seventh inning alone than while he was in any other game this season.