TORONTO -- Whatever was wrong with Chris Sale, he apparently figured it out.
Coming off the worst start of his season, Sale returned to his dominant self Tuesday, blanking the Toronto Blue Jays over seven-plus innings as the Red Sox won their second straight, 3-0.
Sale struck out 11 and didn’t walk anyone while allowing just three hits. In the second inning, he struck out Kevin Pillar and reached 1,500 career strikeouts faster than anyone in history, needing just 1,290 innings to attain that mark.
He limited the Jays to one hit through the first seven innings, but a long top of the eighth resulted in a lengthy wait in the dugout and he gave up line-drive singles in the eighth to the first two hitters he faced, ending his night.
Addison Reed, pitching for the third consecutive day, fanned the first two hitters before yielding a single to load the bases. He then got Steve Pearce on an inning-ending forceout. Craig Kimbrel nailed down the final three outs for his 31st save.
The Sox scratched out a run against Toronto starter Brett Anderson in the sixth, stringing together three straight two-out hits. Hanley Ramirez clubbed his 20th homer of the season to straightaway center in the seventh.
In the eighth, Andrew Benintendi singled home another insurance run.
GAME NO.: 132
WHO: Red Sox (74-57) vs Toronto Blue Jays (61-70)
WHEN: 7:07 p.m.
WHERE: Rogers Centre
TV: NESN
RADIO: WEEI (93.7 FM)
PITCHERS: Chris Sale (14-6, 2.88) vs. Brett Anderson (2-2, 8.18)
BOX SCORE: MLB Gameday
PRE-GAME NOTES:
- David Price is expected to throw off a mound for the first time since being placed on the DL in the final week of July. "That would be a big step,'' said John Farrell. "That's clearly a positive. We'll see how things build.'' Time is running out for Price to make a rehab appearances in the minors, with most affiliates having their seasons end early next week.
- In a change, the Sox will have Christian Vazquez -- instead of Sandy Leon -- catch Rick Porcello Wednesday night. The move is being made to get more at-bats from Vazquez, who has hit .439 with a 1.186 OPS since July 29. "He's swung the bat really well the last four-five weeks,'' said Farrell of Vazquez, "so that's something we'll change up with battery-mates. This will be a little different shift from the combinations we've used this season, but you can't deny the way he's impacting the baseball right now, either.''
- Matt Barnes was scheduled to throw an inning in a rehab appearance for Double A Portland Tuesday night. Farrell said he expected Barnes to be activated as soon as he's eligible, which will be Friday in New York.
- Jackie Bradley Jr. took live BP on the field. "He's made really good strides in the last three or four days,'' said Farrell. Bradley is eligible to come off the DL Saturday.
- Farrell moved Rajai Davis to the leadoff spot for the first time, dropping Eduardo Nunez down to second in the lineup and putting some additional speed at the top.
- The Sox will send six seven off to Peoria of the Arizona Fall League: pitchers Henry Owens, Brian Johnson, Ty Buttrey, and Bobby Poyner; infielders Michael Chavis and Chad De La Guerra and Josh Tobias.