BOSTON _ With 10 strikeouts Thursday in a 3-0 loss to the Yankees, Chris Sale became the fourth pitcher in Red Sox history to record double-digit strikeouts in four straight starts, joining Pedro Martinez, Jon Lester and Roger Clemens.
But it was the third time in those four starts that Sale left without the Red Sox scoring a single run for him.
Typically, Sale blamed himself for the loss despite another strong performance, noting he gave up a pair of ninth-inning runs to give the Yankees some insurance. Sale never wants to come out of games, and he didn't have to tell manager John Farrell his feelings.
"I wanted to go out there," Sale said. "I've got to do better than that. You can't ask for the ninth inning and go out and do that. It's just unacceptable."
Farrell was right to leave in Sale, showing faith in his new ace, who has quickly become a fan favorite at Fenway Park.
"I felt like he's earning the right to continue on in the ninth," Farrell said. "And on a night we were scuffling to score some runs, we end up on the short end."
Sale will no doubt become a huge part of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. He always has pitched well against the Yankees since coming up with the White Sox and now will face them three or more times a year.
"He could've been traded to the other league," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "That would've been OK, too. It's a challenge for our guys, but if you're an athlete and love to compete, you look forward to challenges."
