Sale to miss at least 1 start

Lefty had MRI after leaving Thursday’s game

BOSTON (AP) — Boston Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale will miss his next start and may have to go onto the injured list with a sore shoulder, manager Alex Cora said on Friday.

The seven-time All-Star, who hasn’t had an injury-free season since 2017, left Thursday night’s start against Cincinnati in the fourth inning after two visits from the medical staff. The team was awaiting the results of an MRI on Friday morning, when Cora said Sale reported soreness.

“We don’t know where we’re at, but it’s a possible IL,” Cora said before Friday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Sale, 34, has been to the IL in each of the last five seasons, missing all of 2020 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

In Thursday’s game, Rafael Devers doubled to break an eighth-inning tie and the Boston Red Sox beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-2 on Thursday night.

After the Reds tied it off Chris Martin (1-1) in the eighth, Devers doubled in Alex Verdugo after a leadoff walk in the bottom of the inning. Devers hit a deep drive to straight away center that nearly went out.

Boston added five more runs in the inning. Pinch-runner Ramiel Tapia scored after reliever Kevin Herget (1-2) was called for a balk, Kiki Hernandez singled in two runs and Connor Wong hit a two-run shot into the Green Monster seats.

Kenley Jansen finished off Cincinnati with a scoreless ninth.

Looking to complete a threegame sweep, the Reds opened the scoring in the third on Kevin Newman’s double. Boston tied it in the fourth when Justin Turner singled in Devers, who got a gift double when centerfielder Jose Barrero lost the ball in the lights.