MOOSIC, Pa. — A Red Sox team in need of reinforcements seems like it’s on the verge of getting a significant one.
Lefthander Chris Sale, in what will likely be his final minor league rehab start in his return from Tommy John surgery, threw 4 2/3 shutout innings for the Triple A WooSox against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Sale allowed two hits, walked three, and struck out eight. Does he feel ready to pitch in the big leagues?
“Absolutely. I felt like what I did tonight, I could have gone and done that in a big league game. I would say my last my last two starts, I’ve felt normal,” said Sale, who noted that he is pain-free (a proclamation that came with a search for wood to knock) and concerned only with pitch execution and normal in-game mechanical adjustments rather than how his elbow feels.
“I’m thrilled with what happened today. I had fun. I loved it,” he added. “I’m just appreciative that I can do that again. And I’ll show up tomorrow and do what I got to do then and whenever I throw next is whenever I throw next.”
The lefthander delivered a controlled performance at PNC Field, working mostly at 91-96 miles per hour with his fastball. He emphasized location over power against the Yankees’ Triple A affiliate. He generated 16 swings-and-misses, most of which came on his sweeping slider.
The performance was not overpowering. Sale put baserunners on in each of the first four innings, allowing a nine-pitch walk in the first, a two-out double in the second, a two-out triple in the third, and a pair of walks to open the fourth inning.
But each time, he quickly carved the opposing lineup to avoid any damage. Sale was particularly pleased with how he recovered from the back-to-back walks in the fourth inning. After a brief conference with WooSox catcher Chris Herrmann, Sale struck out lefthanded hitter Socrates Brito and then got a comebacker and flyout to end the frame.
“Big moment. I completely lost it for basically two hitters,” said Sale. “That was the perfect timing for [Herrmann] to come out and say, hey, let’s reset. I even said that to him after, ‘Man, you, you got me back on track right there.’”
Sale returned to the mound for the fifth inning against a pair of lefties, inducing a groundout and then closing his outing by striking out Estevan Florial. With his pitch count at 89 (59 strikes), he was lifted just shy of the Sox’ goal of five to six innings for the lefty.
As Sale departed a scoreless game that Worcester went on to win, 2-1, he received a standing ovation from a road crowd that featured a heavy contingent of Red Sox fans wearing paraphernalia emblazoned with the pitcher’s name.
“For them to come and support us that way, I just really appreciate it,” said Sale.
Over his five rehab starts (one in the Florida Complex League, two with Double A Portland, two with Triple A Worcester), Sale allowed three runs in 20 innings (1.35 ERA) with 35 strikeouts and five walks.
As long as Sale responds well to the physical demands of his fifth and final rehab start, he could make his return to the big leagues in the coming days — almost exactly (or, perhaps, exactly) two years removed from his last big league start on Aug. 13, 2019.
In the roughly 16½ months since his surgery, there were times when his rehab process felt interminable. Yet for Sale, the deliberate steps have taken him to the right place — one where he can help his team in a pennant race.
“I couldn’t be any more happy with it [the rehab process],” said Sale. “There were times I wanted to be back sooner [and when] I’m sure they wanted me to be back sooner, but they stuck to the plan.”
That willingness, in turn, has Sale positioned to return to the big leagues at a time when the Red Sox have been sinking quickly in the standings. Sale is aware of that development, but his excitement to get back to the big leagues and compete is not simply a matter of the Red Sox’ recent struggles.
“I want to get back there and help my team, not because of where we’re at right now, but because it’s what I’m supposed to do,” said Sale, who will take the bus back to Worcester with his teammates on Sunday afternoon. “I was built for this. This is what I’ve been supposed to do. And I’ve missed out on it for a couple of years now.
“And now,” he added, “it’s time to go.”
Sale is not concerned about whether his return to the Red Sox rotation comes on four days of rest (Thursday) or more. He’s simply looking forward to what comes next.
“Hand me the ball,” he said. “I’m gonna throw until you take it.”
Alex Speier can be reached at alex.speier@globe.com. Follow him @alexspeier.