It could be his control tonight, or it could be Sale doesn't want to challenge the Astros hitters. He is throwing one heckuva lot of fastballs.
The radical shift worked perfectly--for Alvarez.
Come to think of it, it also worked well for Arozarena when he stole home. Devers couldn't even see 3b from where he was positioned.
This absolutely is not the good Sale. Nevertheless, 2 innings and 1 run is not too shabby--and not luck. Yes, bases loaded, but he then K'd Altuve, and got Brantley on a soft shot that Kike was able to run in on and grab.