Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale prematurely exited his second start of the season Sunday after getting hit in his left pinky by a line drive against the Yankees.
The devastating injury occurred in the bottom of the first inning after Yankees outfielder Aaron Hicks drilled the left-hander’s 87 mph changeup, sending it flying back toward the mound at an exit velocity of 106.7 mph. Sale took the hit directly in his pinky and briefly went to the ground before popping back up and immediately walking to the dugout.
Hicks’ hit drove Gleyber Torres in from second base to give the Yankees an early 3–0 lead with New York sitting at two outs.