Red Sox starter Chris Sale wasn't particularly sharp and he certainly wasn't efficient in his Game 1 start Tuesday. Sale lasted only four-plus innings and allowed three runs in the Red Sox' 8-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series opener.
After a scoreless first, Sale was given a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning. But in the second, he saw a 94-mph fastball hit into the Monster Seats by Matt Kemp, cutting the lead in half. Then in the third, the Dodgers strung together three-straight singles for a second run, tying the game at 2-2.
After a 1-2-3 fourth that included two strikeouts -- among the seven Sale recorded -- he came back out for the fifth, but only briefly. He issued a leadoff walk to Brian Dozier and Alex Cora went to Matt Barnes.
Sale's night saw him need 91 pitches to get just 12 outs and allow five hits and two walks.
"I had good stuff, but my command was a little spotty,'' Sale said. "It was a battle. We're in the World Series and we're doing everything we can and it ended up being all right.''
Sale's velocity (94-96 mph) was better than it was his last time out -- when he stayed around 91-92 mph -- but his slider was his most effective pitch and the lefty had to fight to get through his outing without full command of the rest of his arsenal.
"I said it a couple of times in the dugout -- it's a dogfight now,'' Sale said. "You've got the two best teams in baseball playing, and there's pretty much zero margin for error. They're grinding, we're grinding and my job as a starting pitcher is obviously to pitch as deep into the game as I can and win, but I just have to give my team a chance. Luckily for me, I have an unbelievable offense and great defense and they picked me up tonight.
"It wasn't exactly how you want to draw it up, but at the end of the day (we came away with the win).''
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