The Boston Red Sox have grown accustomed to seeing Chris Sale dominate every time he takes the mound. The left-hander typically embarrasses hitters with a combination of a high-end fastball, filthy slider and precise command. Unfortunately for Sale, his strengths evaded him Saturday night at Fenway Park. Boston’s ace turned in an underwhelming start in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, tossing just four innings in which he allowed two runs on one hit with four walks. Sale’s fastball topped out in the low-90s for the majority of his outing, and his slider was practically non-existent. Sale’s lackluster start was just the beginning of the Red Sox’s frustrating night as the Houston Astros handed the home team a 7-2 loss. The second inning was the most concerning for Sale, who allowed two walks and hit a batter after recording the first two outs of the frame. The Astros seized the opportunity when George Springer smacked a two-RBI single, giving Houston a lead it would not relinquish. Sale didn’t address his decreased velocity after the game, but he did own up to his lack of command, which he struggled to find throughout the night. “I just lost command,” Sale said, as seen on NESN’s Red Sox postgame coverage. “Kind of out there searching for it for a little bit. Just do the best you can to kind of corral it in and limit the damage and get out of there as quick as possible.<doc-sep>This isn’t how the Boston Red Sox envisioned the American League Championship Series starting. After winning a league-best 108 games during the regular season, their backs are immediately against after losing Game 1 against the Houston Astros, 7-2, and watching ace Chris Sale struggle to find the strike zone. Sale only lasted four innings in his Game 1 start, issuing a season-high four walks while hitting one batter. The rest of Boston’s pitchers were just as erratic. Collectively, the pitching staff issued 10 walks, which is the most by a Red Sox pitching staff in a postseason game since 1999, and hit three batters to boot. Now they’ll turn to David Price, who famously has not won a postseason start during his otherwise productive career. In zeroing in on Sale’s struggles, the 29-year-old left-hander never looked uncomfortable during the outing. He showed notable a decrease in velocity from his Game 1 start in the ALDS against the New York Yankees. This is something worth watching. Chris Sale's first-inning fastball velocity tonight: 91, 89, 90, 92, 94, 93, 93, 90, 92, 89. His first-inning fastball velocity in his ALDS start: 95, 94, 93, 95, 95, 96, 95, 95, 96, 97. Average tonight: 91.3 mph Average in ALDS: 95.1 mph — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 14, 2018 Sale’s command proved to be the bigger issue. He couldn’t get his fastball, change up or slider over the plate with any consistency, leading to some messy early innings. Red Sox starter Chris Sale tied a season high with four walks in a four-inning outing during ALCS Game 1. (AP) To his credit, Sale only allowed one hit. But it was damaging. After loading the bases with two outs in the second inning, postseason monster George Springer ripped a two-run single to give Houston the early lead. 2 outs? Bases loaded? NBD for George Springer! @astros up 2-0 in the 2nd! pic.twitter.com/WcQC2dd3yA — FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 14, 2018 Sale needed 50 pitches to get through two innings. He showed slightly improved efficiency in the third and fourth innings. Sale retired the final four batters he faced, including three by strikeout. That’s when manager Alex Cora decided to let Sale leave on a high note, while perhaps preserving him for a relief outing in Game 3. Sale finished with five strikeouts and 86 pitches. Story continues Respect to Chris Sale. He's got D-level stuff tonight, compared to what he's got when he's at his best, and he still has punched out five through four innings and allowed just one hit. Astros have missed too many opportunities. They're lucky Justin Verlander has dealt thus far. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 14, 2018 All things considered, Sale did do a great job of surviving without anything close to his best stuff. Unfortunately, the team’s bullpen couldn’t say the same. Houston scored five unanswered runs against Boston’s bullpen after the Red Sox briefly tied the game. Now the Red Sox will turn to Price in what could amount to a must-win Game 2 on Sunday night. Price’s postseason struggles have been well documented. As a starter, he is 0-9 in the playoffs with a 6.03 ERA. When Price starts in the postseason, his teams are 0-10. There has to be a correction coming sometime, right? Price has been too good for too long during the regular season for this story to not take a positive turn sooner or later. David Price has his biggest and best chance to rewrite his postseason narrative in ALCS Game 3. (AP) Maybe. Then again, maybe if it hasn’t happened by now, it never will. Maybe history will say Price just couldn’t get it done in the postseason. The only one who can provide the answers is David Price himself. And all that will really matter is the Monday morning narrative, after Price has taken the mound and done his best to rewrite it. That will tell us where this story goes next. But it’s difficult to imagine there being a better time and a better place for Price to steer his legacy in a new direction. More from Yahoo Sports: • This Cubs star reportedly turned down a $200 million extension • It’s free burgers in Milwaukee if Brewers win Game 1 • The Red Sox still believe in David Price for the ALCS • MLB postseason schedule: How to watch the ALCS and NLCS<doc-sep>
BOSTON -- Red Sox ace Chris Sale made an early exit in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros. Sale lasted just four innings Saturday night, giving up two runs on one hit and four walks as Boston dropped the series opener 7-2. Sale opened the game with an eight-pitch walk to George Springer and struggled through the first three innings with subpar stuff and location. Houston took advantage in the second. Sale got two quick outs but then walked Carlos Correa, plunked Martin Maldonado on the hand with a fastball and walked Josh Reddick. Springer followed with a hard grounder past third baseman Eduardo Nunez to put Boston ahead 2-0. Sale decided to go sleeveless despite a 48-degree first pitch, and it took too long for his fastball to heat up. His velocity has been a focus since a shoulder issue landed him on the disabled list in August. He returned in September but averaged just 90 mph in his final regular-season tuneup, well below his standard. He jumped back up to about 95 mph in two effective outings against the Yankees in the AL Division Series but was sitting a relatively sluggish 90-93 on Saturday. His control was shaky, too, even as he perhaps took something off his fastball and slider after falling behind in counts. He threw one pitch behind Alex Bregman, and all four of his walks came in the first two innings. Red Sox ace Chris Sale struggled through the first three innings Saturday night before being lifted after 86 pitches. Tim Bradbury/Getty Images Sale had just two whiffs in the first three innings before finding a groove in the fourth. That was enough for Cora, though, who pulled Sale after 86 pitches. Sale struck out five, including Correa and Maldonado to end his outing. The 29-year-old allowed five hits and two earned runs, striking out nine over 6⅓ innings in his ALDS Game 1 win over Yankees. He also came on in relief during Game 4, retiring all three batters he faced during the eighth inning. Saturday night's start harkened back to the rough outing he had in his postseason debut in Game 1 of last season's ALDS against Houston. Sale gave up seven earned runs in the five innings he pitched in that outing, yielding a pair of home runs to Jose Altuve and another to Bregman in a loss. Sale came on in a relief appearance in Game 4 of that series, as well, holding the Astros scoreless through four innings before allowing two runs in the Red Sox's 5-4 Game 4 loss as Houston wrapped up the series 3-1. The Associated Press contributed to this report.