Chris Sale Notches Most 1st-Half Strikeouts Since 2002

Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale ended his first half with a disappointing loss to the Kansas City Royals, allowing four runs on seven hits (including two home runs) last Thursday.

While the half ended on a sour note, Sale did notch 12 strikeouts in the contest to end the first half with an MLB-leading 178 strikeouts. The total marks the most prior to the All-Star break since Curt Schilling possessed 186 in 2002, per Sportsnet Stats.

Although he dropped his final contest, Sale posted an 11-4 record over 18 first-half starts. The dominant southpaw also completed the first session with a 2.75 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP and was named the American League's starting pitcher for the Midsummer Classic. He proceeded to allow three hits while striking out two over two scoreless frames.

Sale led the Red Sox's rotation into the break with the team possessing a 50-39 record and a 3.5-game lead over the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the AL East. However, the club finished the half losing four of its last five games including three of four against the Rays.

Boston opens the second half against the Yankees on Friday, with Drew Pomeranz taking the mound for the Red Sox and Michael Pineda for New York. The series spans just three days, but the clubs share a scheduled doubleheader Sunday. Sale makes his first start of the second half Saturday against the Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka.