Sale lasts just 4 innings in subpar ALCS opener

It was deja vu all over again for Chris Sale in Game 1 of the ALCS.

For the second straight year, the Boston Red Sox ace had a rough postseason start against the Houston Astros. Sale didn't have his best stuff on Saturday, and he was removed after allowing two runs on 86 pitches (50 for strikes) in only four innings against the defending champions.

"He only commanded the fastball glove-side," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said, according to MLB.com's Ian Browne. "He didn't find his slider until the fourth. The changeup was OK. Fastball arm-side and the slider, it wasn't there, so it was a struggle for him tonight."

It was the shortest playoff start of Sale's career. He also lasted only five innings in Game 1 of last year's American League Division Series against Houston, his playoff debut.

The bottom fell out for Sale during a 34-pitch second inning that featured uncharacteristic erratic control from the lanky left-hander. Sale loaded the bases with two walks and a hit-by-pitch before giving up a two-run single to George Springer that put the Astros on top 2-0.

Through his first two innings, Sale threw 50 pitches. He was at 69 pitches after three innings before finishing at 86.

Springer's single was the lone hit allowed by Sale. However, he walked four batters - one shy of his career single-game high in the regular season or playoffs - and hit one while striking out five. He only induced six swings-and-misses on the night, according to ESPN's David Schoenfield.

Saturday's start also marked the second of Sale's career when he walked at least four while failing to pitch into the fifth inning. He last did that in 2016 while pitching for the Chicago White Sox.

Sale, who missed time during the regular season with a shoulder injury, displayed a noticeable decrease in velocity. His fastball averaged 91.7 mph in Game 1, well down from his regular-season average, according to NESN's Tom Caron.

"Early in the game (his velocity) was off," Cora explained. "But at the end you saw it 93, 94. He finished strong. But I felt like where we were in the game it was (Josh) Reddick and the top of the lineup, it was better going to somebody else."

Joe Kelly replaced Sale to start the fifth inning, with the Red Sox trailing Houston 2-0.