BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale pitched five shutout innings in his second outing since Tommy John surgery to help the Red Sox beat the Texas Rangers 6-0 on Friday night and bounce back after a sweep to the Yankees knocked Boston into third place.
Xander Bogaerts homered and the Red Sox, who led the division on July 30, pounded out six doubles after returning to Fenway Park in third and out of playoff position. The Yankees also won, leaving the Red Sox 1 1/2 games behind New York in the AL wild-card race.
Sale (2-0) threw 71 pitches, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out five for his second win in two starts since returning from elbow ligament replacement surgery.