BOSTON — Chris Sale may have hit the finish line of his rehab assignment, but didn’t necessarily get the results he was looking for in potentially his final stop before his big league return.
In his fourth rehab start as he returns from a rib-cage stress fracture, Sale’s command was off. The Red Sox lefty, pitching for Triple-A Worcester, issued five walks over just 3 2/3 innings, including a free pass to end his outing. Sale made 72 pitches — around the benchmark the Red Sox set for — with 42 going for strikes.
Sale’s velocity continued to reach 96 mph on his fastball, but his control was off the mark. He gave up two walks in the first inning, another in the second and a leadoff free pass in the third, which he worked around by retiring the side in four pitches, one on a double play.
