Chris Sale, a 10-time All-Star and without a doubt one of the best starting pitchers of this generation, had given up just one hit all season on a fastball thrown above the strike zone. Seriously, one. That astonishing streak, a testament to his enduring dominance even at 37 years old, lasted until Alec Bohm stepped into the batter’s box for the Philadelphia Phillies in the very first inning of Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.
Bohm Blasts Sale’s Nearly Unhittable Heater
The energy in that stadium must have been electric, because Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm didn’t just make contact; he absolutely crushed a high fastball from Sale. This wasn’t some weak blooper either. Bohm sent that pitch screaming over the head of Braves center fielder Michael Harris II for a clutch RBI double. Just like that, in the blink of an eye, the Phillies snagged a brief 1-0 lead. What a way to kick off a Wild Card Series, right? That hit immediately set a tone, and as we found out shortly after, it was a much bigger deal than anyone initially realized.
A Feat So Rare, It’s Mind-Boggling
After Bohm’s double, The Athletic’s Jayson Stark hit social media with a Statcast tidbit that makes your jaw hit the floor. According to the numbers, Sale had allowed only a single hit on a fastball above the strike zone throughout the entire regular season. Think about that for a second. Just one! That solitary hit was a single by Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., all the way back on Opening Day. From April to September, almost nobody in the league could touch that specific pitch from Sale. Then, in a high-stakes Wild Card game, Bohm steps up and hammers it. That’s not just a good swing; it’s a monumental achievement that tells you everything about facing down an ace under pressure.
Sale’s Fastball Still King, But Bohm Found a Way
Let’s be real, even at 37 years old, Chris Sale’s fastball is still an absolute monster. The guy’s a 10-time All-Star for a reason, and his four-seamer averaged a career-high 96.1 mph during the regular season. That kind of velocity, especially when it’s high in the zone, is why players across the league have had such incredible difficulty squaring it up all year. It’s a truly elite offering in baseball. For Alec Bohm to not only connect with that pitch, but to drive it for an RBI double when virtually no one else had managed to do so all season long? That’s not just impressive; it’s a pure showcase of skill and timing. It’s the kind of moment that can inject real belief into a team, proving that even the best can be hit.
Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, first inning, and we’re already seeing this kind of history-making hit. If the Phillies are going to bring this kind of clutch performance against one of baseball’s best, then this series is absolutely going to be a rollercoaster. We’re on the edge of our seats waiting to see what happens next!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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