Boston's opener win a tale of two Chrises

BOSTON -- For the Red Sox, Friday night’s 3-2 win over the White Sox at Fenway Park was mostly about the Chris who started the game and the Chris who closed it out.

For Chris Sale, it is all about building momentum for a “normal” offseason, something he’s had too few of in recent years.

For Chris Martin, it was about staying on a scintillating run of dominance that has essentially lasted the entire season but has really picked up steam in recent weeks.

Over five scoreless innings, Sale allowed three hits and a walk while striking out seven.

Meanwhile, Martin got the save while turning in his 20th consecutive scoreless outing and lowering his ERA to a miniscule 1.05. For pitchers who have logged at least 30 innings this season, that ERA is the best in MLB.

“Just try to go out and prepare the same way every single day,” Martin said. “I’m not really thinking about all the numbers and all that kind of stuff. Just go out and try to win the game, basically, is what I'm trying to do.”

As for Sale, the lanky lefty has allowed five hits and one run over 11 innings while walking three and striking out 17 over his past two starts. In Sale’s prime, he’d put together back-to-back starts like that with regularity and pile a few more on top of those two.

But at this stage, Sale’s main concern is his health. After missing two months in the middle of the season with a stress reaction in his left shoulder, it took Sale a while to look like himself again. Slowly but surely, it is finally starting to happen.

“To finish healthy, I think, is more important,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “As of now he’ll make his next one. But I think going into the offseason healthy is important, because then your offseason is a regular one. It’s about working out, working on your pitches and all that stuff. You don’t have to worry about rehab. That’s what we want. So far, everything has been good. He’s bouncing back from outings the right way. One more [start] and be ready for next year.”

The one thing different about Sale’s start on Friday than the one last weekend in Toronto was velocity. Against the Jays, Sale averaged just 91.4 mph with his heater, well below his season average of 94 mph.

His first two pitches against the White Sox were 93 mph, and his final heater of the night seared in at 95.9.

“It’s just one of those things of building up,” Sale said. “Had some things to take care of over the last few weeks. Obviously, it’s been a step in the right direction last week and with this one too, so just try to maintain that and keep putting up zeros.”

Martin has become Mr. Zero for the Red Sox. Scoring against him is a true achievement for the opposition in that it has only happened five times in the righty’s 55 appearances.

“He makes quality pitches,” said Cora. “It’s not about throwing strikes, it’s quality strikes. He can go anywhere in the strike zone. He changes speeds.”

In 37 outings since June 9, Martin has allowed one run.

“It’s been unbelievable,” said Sale. “I don't want to say too much, because we're still rolling with [his streak]. He’s done a hell of a job for us, as consistent as you could possibly be. What’s better than to have someone like that in the back of your bullpen?”

The latest 1-2-3 performance by Martin started when he showed quick reflexes by ranging to the first-base side of the mound to snare a lineout by Elvis Andrus.

“Yeah, me and Elvis, we played together and I know what he’s trying to do there with two strikes. He’s trying to get a base hit,” said Martin. “I went cutter down and away there. I was kind of ready for it. I was hoping he would swing and miss, but I was ready for him to try to shoot it through that hole over there and he didn’t get it quite far enough over.”