Chris Sale shuts down Yankees to continue resurgent season

Chris Sale is no longer a division foe for the Yankees, but the former Red Sox ace is clearly healthy again and posting a monster comeback season after switching leagues and joining the Braves.

Sale, who hasn’t made an All-Star team due to various injuries since his seventh straight selection in 2018, continued his resurgence at this level with five one-run innings Friday night in Collage 8 -1 from the Braves. of Carlos Rodon and the Yankees at the Stadium.

The 35-year-old left-hander, who allowed one hit while striking out eight, was 10-2 with a 2.91 ERA in his first 14 starts for the Braves following an offseason trade with Boston.

” I did it. It worked tonight,” said Sale, who improved to 7-9 in 23 career games against the Yankees. “I played against those guys a lot and saw what they could do. I have too much respect for the game and too much respect for these guys to say anything other than we fought and it went like that tonight.

“I’ve been on the other side too, but the offense got me tonight. I had a lead before I even threw a pitch. I don’t think there’s a starting pitcher in the league who would say he doesn’t like it.

Sale missed the entire COVID-shortened 2020 season after Tommy John surgery, and he made just 11 starts combined the next two years due to back issues, a broken finger and a broken wrist .

But he pitched to a 4.30 ERA in 20 outings last season, prompting general manager Alex Anthopoulos to send Braves top prospect Vaughn Grissom to Boston in December, with the Red Sox covering $17 million of his 2024 salary.

Atlanta then signed Sale to a two-year contract extension worth $37 million a few weeks later.

Sale allowed two or more earned runs in just three of his first 14 starts for the Braves, including eight in four innings on June 1 against the A’s.

He also struck out 107 and walked 16 in 86 ²/₃ innings this season.

“Just like we weren’t worried when things didn’t go well, we’re not going to sit here and have a party when it happens,” Sale said.

The Yankees’ only hit against Sale was a Jahmai Jones triple in the second inning; the ball only fell after left fielder Adam Duvall misjudged it.

“Have you ever looked at his career?” … He’s an unbelievable pitcher,” Juan Soto said of Sale.

Before the game, Aaron Boone used the term “vintage sales” to describe the season he is having. It turned out he was right.

“That looked like Sale when he was at his best,” Boone added afterward. “He’s having a great year there. We saw a lot of the great Chris Sale in his early years with the Red Sox and the Chris Sale who suffered many injuries and struggled.

“He looked really good. The secondary (stuff) was excellent. …He was tough.