BOSTON -- Chris Sale displayed power in a one-inning "opener" start against the Blue Jays in his return from the disabled list on Tuesday, striking out two of the five batters he faced.
The plan was for the left-hander to throw two innings and a maximum of 40 pitches. But after Sale threw 26 pitches in the first, allowing no runs and striking out two, Red Sox manager Alex Cora removed him from the game in favor of righty Brandon Workman.
At that point, Sale jogged out to the bullpen and threw the rest of his allotted pitches there.