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Boston's Chris Sale Jokes Hospital Visit Was Due to ‘Belly-Button Ring'

The Boston Red Sox ace had some fun with reporters while discussing what made him sick.

Chris Sale has resumed throwing and says he's ready to pitch Game 1 of the World Series after missing an AL Championship Series start and being hospitalized with an illness.

The Boston Red Sox ace also had some fun with reporters while discussing what made him sick.

He says the ailment was a "stomach thing'' and he "just kind of got sick.'' But he also joked it was caused by irritation from a belly-button ring.

"I had an irritation from a belly-button ring that I kind of constantly was pulling in and out," Sale said. "It caused an irritation, a rash down there, so I had to take care of that. The doctors and nurses at MGH [Massachusetts General Hospital] were awesome."

Although Sale remained deadpan during the comment, he has not been observed with a pierced navel.

Sale was initially slated to pitch Game 5 of the ALCS against Houston but was ruled out after the illness left him weak.

He missed several games of the ALCS as Boston played the Houston Astros.

Sale threw a bullpen session during Boston's workout on Saturday and says he will go through his normal routine before taking the mound at Fenway Park for Tuesday's Game 1 of the World Series against either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Milwaukee Brewers.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Sale threw on flat ground again earlier in the day and was feeling better since a stomach illness led to him spending a night in the hospital.

"So he's ready for his next start," Cora said before Game 5 of the AL Championship Series.

Boston's 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros put the Red Sox in the World Series for the first time since 2013. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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