Chris Sale made his third rehab start on Thursday night at Hadlock Field in Portland, this time with the Portland Sea Dogs in a Double A Eastern League matchup against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Toronto Blue Jays). The Sea Dogs ended up winning the game 15-4 to start the second half of the season 3-0.
Sale made two previous rehab starts with the Florida Complex League Red Sox (rookie level) in Port Charlotte. He pitched a total of 3.2 innings in Florida, allowing just one run on four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. In his start Thursday night, Sale went 4.0 innings allowing one run on four hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. The left hander was throwing between 91-96 miles per hour, reaching 96 four different times, and generating 16 swings and misses. He had a good mix of two seam and four seam fastballs along with a slider and changeup, and finished off his start by striking out the side in the fourth inning throwing a total of 52 pitches (37 for strikes).
If all goes well, Sale could be back with the big club prior to the All-Star break. He started the season on the 60 day injured list due to a stress fracture in his right rib cage, and previously had his rehab assignment in May shut down due to a small personal medical issue. Sale has gone 40-24 in four seasons with Boston, and overall is 114-74 with 12 saves and a 3.03 earned run average over 11 major league seasons. His next start will likely be next week at Triple A Worcester with the WooSox.
