(Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Chris Sale hasn't won a championship, but he handled his postgame session with the media like a champ yesterday.
"We show up to win, obviously, but things like that happen," Sale said. "I mean, that's why we play the game, right? Don't ever take it for granted, it's never over. Just take it off the chin, and come back tomorrow ready to go."
It couldn't have been easy pitching six one-hit, scoreless innings, then watching your bullpen blow a 4-nothing lead by allowing six runs in the eighth inning.
But, like Sale said, it happens.
Normally Reliable Red Sox Bullpen Takes Unlikely Turn
The Red Sox had one of baseball's best bullpens last year. This year's started differently.
But, Alex Cora, when it was clear Joe Kelly wasn't getting the job done against the Rays, why Carson Smith to face two lefties over southpaw Bobby Poyner? Or, more to the point, why not use your closer Craig Kimbrel?
"We talked about it before the game," Cora said. "I'm not gonna put him in that spot right now because we feel he's ready, but I don't think it's fair for him to come in in a situation where it's not a clean inning ... It's something that, we map it out, we talk about it, and we stick to it."
In fairness, Kimbrel only pitched twice in spring training after being away from the Red Sox to tend to his family for three weeks.
But, he did pitch in the eighth six times last year for a total of two-and-two-thirds scoreless frames. The righty gave up one hit and struck out seven in those spots.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports