Chris Sale of the Red Sox, who was making his first start at Yankee Stadium in nearly three years, was forced to exit the game in the first inning due to a serious finger injury.
With his club already down 2-0 and facing Yankee left fielder Aaron Hicks, Sale took a line shot off his bare hand that severely damaged his left pinky finger.
Sale signalled to his dugout that something wasn’t right as the ball moved all the way into the outfield, allowing another run to score. Sale limped into the clubhouse of the Red Sox for additional evaluation, making the neck slash motion, a common “I’m done” signal. Manager Alex Cora and a member of the Red Sox medical team assisted him in leaving the field.
On Sale’s hand or finger, no formal diagnosis has been made as of yet.
Although a pitcher never wants to hurt their pitching hand, Sale’s quick response might have kept him from taking a blow to the head or face.
Hicks hit the ball at a speed of 106.7 mph.
After missing the first three months of the season due to a rib injury, Sale, a 12-year MLB veteran, seven-time All-Star, and 2018 World Series champion with Boston, was making only his second start of the year.
