Chris Sale can't elude comebacker, but appears to have dodged major injury

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- What was supposed to be a routine final Grapefruit League tuneup for Chris Sale nearly turned into a disaster for the 2018 Red Sox.

Sale was struck on the left hip on a ball hit by Houston Astros first baseman J.D. Davis Saturday in the first inning and left the game. Davis hit a comebacker that caught Sale on the left hip as he finished his follow-through. Thanks to the speed of the line drive and the fact that Sale was essentially balancing on one leg at the time, he was sent spiraling to the ground.

Chris Sale takes a comebacker off his hip and had to leave the game. #RedSox #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/SCt5pjb2w9

— Tater Talk (@TaterTalkPod) March 24, 2018