Former La Crosse Logger Chis Sale drops to 0-5 for Red Sox

BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale is still searching for answers — and a victory, too.

The Boston Red Sox ace remained winless in six starts this season, giving up Daniel Robertson’s two-run homer in the first inning and Yandy Diaz’s two-run triple in the second during a 5-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.

“I keep saying the same things over and over: It’s a step in the right direction,” Sale, who played for the La Crosse Loggers back in 2008, said. “Nobody wants to hear that, but I’d love to be sitting up here talking about wins and all that. At the end of the day, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. I’m grinding. I’m trying to find a way.”

Sale (0-5) gave up four runs — two earned — four hits and three walks in seven innings with eight strikeouts, lowering his ERA from 7.43 to 6.30.

After signing a $160 million, six-year contract in spring training, the 30-year-old left-hander is off to the worst start of his big league career.

Sale was 2-3 in 17 appearances for the Loggers in 2008. He struck out 74 in 53 innings that summer.

Tyler Glasnow (5-0) gave up two runs and five hits in 6⅔ innings with nine strikeouts, tying for the big league lead in wins. Glasnow has allowed two runs or fewer in all six starts this season. The 25-year-old righty was excited to have faced Sale.

“He’s an unbelievable pitcher. He’s been one of my favorites for a long time,” Glasnow said. “I still am able to step back and realize how cool the situation is, just to be able to throw against guys like that.”

The Red Sox dropped to 11-17, 7½ games behind the Rays.

Last season, Sale was 12-4 with a 2.11 ERA. He struck out 237 in 158 innings, walking 34. The year before that, he was 17-8, striking out 308 in 214.1 innings, walking 43.

Those 300 strike outs two seasons ago were the first time an AL pitcher hit that mark in 18 seasons at the time — when Pedro Martinez did it back in 1999. Martinez finished with 313 strikeouts that season.