Sale fired with 17 K in 7 IP; Red Sox falls in 11

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox's ace, Chris Sale, has scored an average of 17 goals in seven innings against the Colorado Rockies, and was eliminated after 108 shots in a cold Tuesday night at Fenway Park.

Sale left the game with a 3-2 lead, but the Rockies won 5-4 in 11 innings.

Sale has become the first thrower in the history of the major leagues to count 17 fans in less than seven innings.

The League's record for strikeouts in nine innings is 20, five times. Roger Clemens did it twice for Boston, Kerry Wood and Randy Johnson also accomplished the feat and Max Scherzer was the last to do it in 2016.

When Boston manager Alex Cora announced to Sale that he was coming out, the southpaw used his fingers to form number 20.

Sale surpassed his previous record of 15 strikeouts, dominating the Rockies with a fastball and a sharp slider. Sale eliminated the first six batters and opened the scoring eight to three innings. He did not allow a runner until Mark Reynolds doubled to start the fifth.

Sale gave up three hits, including a two-run homer in Nolan Arenado, and did not walk anyone. Brandon Workman was relieved to start eighth and gave the pitch to Charlie Blackmon.

The Red Sox had him tied for eighth, but Reynolds beat Ryan Brasier's single RBI in the 11th inning.

Sale's 17 strikeouts are the most pitcher-hit points in a match since Scherzer hit 20 on May 11, 2016 against Detroit, and the most by a Red Sox pitcher since Pedro Martinez was 17 in 2000.

In his last game against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, Sale recorded 14 strikeouts in eight runs. He is the first pitcher to record at least 14 catches in consecutive starts since Clayton Kershaw in 2015 (August 28 – September 2).

This is the second time in Sale's career that he has recorded at least 14 strikeouts over two consecutive starts (also in 2015). He is the third Red Sox thrower of the live ball era (since 1920) to join Pedro Martinez, who has done so three times, and to Roger Clemens, who has done so two times.

Associated Press contributed to this report.