Written by Ian Browne at MLB.com
Chris Sale typically isn’t all that big on personal milestones, but even he couldn’t help but admit that reaching 1,500 strikeouts faster than any pitcher in history is a feat to appreciate.
Sale’s impressive accomplishment happened en route to his latest masterpiece performance, which led his Red Sox to a 3-0 victory over the Blue Jays on Tuesday night at Rogers Centre.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Kerry Wood was the previous record holder by reaching 1,500 in 1,303 innings. Pedro Martinez (1,337 innings), Randy Johnson (1,365 2/3), Nolan Ryan and current Nationals ace Max Scherzer (1,394) round out the top five.
“That’s pretty crazy,” said Sale. “This game has been around a long time. To do that is cool. I appreciate it. I try not to get too caught up in it, but I definitely take a step back and look at it and appreciate it.”
That’s about as reflective as Sale will get during a season. If there’s one thing that’s become clear in his first season with the Red Sox, it is the laser focus he takes to the mound.
In his first 27 starts with his new team, Sale is 15-6 with a 2.77 ERA and 264 strikeouts over 185 1/3 innings. Opponents are hitting .197 against him.
“You marvel at his pitchability. You marvel at his overall stuff,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell. “He’s blessed with such uniqueness from a delivery standpoint and physical abilities. … It’s hard for me to fathom a guy could record that many strikeouts in less than 1,300 innings. Really remarkable.”
To continue reading this article, click here.
