Whatever he’s doing, it’s not working for Chris Sale, and it has been tough to watch. On Saturday, fresh off a resounding 8-1 pounding of the best team in baseball, the Red Sox fell to the Dodgers with another lopsided margin of 11-2.
Sale was tagged for five earned runs on Saturday for a career-high third straight outing and, lifted after just 4.2 IP, took another losing decision. Sale hasn’t earned a win at Fenway Park since July 11, 2018, a span of 13 starts that now stands as the longest-ever such streak by a Boston pitcher. The only other MLB pitcher to go winless at Fenway over 13 straight games was Hal Brown over stints pitching for Boston in 1953-55 and then with the Orioles (1956-58).
Sale’s winless streak at Fenway eclipses the previous high of 12 straight such games by Boston hurlers: Eduardo Rodríguez (2015-17), Frank Castillo (2001-02), Pete Schourek (1998-2000), Gordon Rhodes (1934-35) and Paul Zahniser (1925-26).
Sale joins E-Rod with now three starts this season in which he’s allowed five or more earned runs over 4.2 or fewer innings pitched. Rick Porcello has four such starts in 2019. No other American League team has three such pitchers on their staff.