Chris Sale on Game 1 performance: ‘Bad time to ‘suck’

Chris Sale accepted responsibility for his performance during Game 1 of the American League Division Series between the Astros and Red Sox.

Sale made his postseason debut on Thursday and it was one he will surely want to forget. In five innings, Sale allowed nine hits and seven runs. He also surrendered three home runs, including back-to-back shots in the first inning to Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve.

The Astros took Game 1 by a final score of 8-2. Afterward, Sale offered no excuses for his outing. He also added it was a “bad time to suck.”

Chris Sale: "No excuses. Bad time to suck. Take it off the chin, be back here tomorrow working my nuts off, ready to go."#RedSox

— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) October 6, 2017

Starting Sale in Game 1 was decision few will question John Farrell for. Sale is comfortably among the best starting pitchers in all of baseball.

However, Sale did struggle a bit towards the end of the season. In his final 11 starts, Sale allowed 4 or more earned runs five times, including five runs and four home runs in his final start of the regular season. Should Boston’s series against Houston go four games, the Red Sox would likely call on Sale again and hope for better results.