Chris Sale Strikes out at Least 10 Batters in 8th Straight Game

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale matched a modern-era record he and Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez hold by reaching double-digit strikeouts for the eighth consecutive time Friday night against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum.

Sale downplayed the accomplishment following the team's 3-2 loss in extra innings, telling the Associated Press (via ESPN): "Peripheral stats don't matter in this game. I know people love crunching numbers and they love talking about this and that. They're flashy, they're cool but at the end of the day they don't matter."

Boston acquired the 28-year-old left-hander from the Chicago White Sox in December for a group of prospects, including Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech.

Sale has posted a 2.19 ERA and 0.79 WHIP across nine starts to go along with a ridiculous 95 strikeouts in 65.2 innings.

While the offseason acquisition has shined, the Red Sox have found themselves stuck in neutral. They hold a 21-20 overall record, with a 4-6 mark over their past 10 games after dropping their last two contests.

"I still think we have [the mindset we did coming off two wins in St. Louis]," Sale said, per Evan Drellich of CSN New England. "That's the fun thing about this team. You look around this clubhouse, we have some fun guys that have been around awhile and just know, they know, this isn't a panic situation for anybody in here."

He added: "This is part of what goes on in a baseball season, really. Believe it or not, I like where we're at. I think physically and mentally the guys in here can get through this and prevail."

The Red Sox have two games left in their series with the A's before returning home for a six-game homestand. Sale will look to continue his strikeout streak when he takes the mound for his next scheduled start against the Texas Rangers.