Chris Sale was all about the number three on Thursday night — so much so that it landed him in the major league record book.
In the third inning of the Boston Red Sox left-hander’s third start of the season, Sale struck out each of the three Minnesota batters he faced on three pitches each, giving him the third immaculate inning of his career.
According to MLB Stats, Sale is the second player known to have three career immaculate innings — an inning in which a pitcher strikes out all three batters on the minimum nine total pitches — joining Hall of Fame lefty Sandy Koufax.
Also according to MLB Stats, each of the last three immaculate innings pitched by Red Sox pitchers belong to Sale — twice in 2019 and then Thursday night.
With the Red Sox leading 3-0, Sale struck out Nick Gordon, Andrelton Simmons and Rob Refsnyder, all swinging and each managing to foul off one pitch.
Sale, 32, is coming off Tommy John surgery and Thursday marked his third start of the season. He is 3-0 after missing all of last season.
–Field Level Media