Sale looks good in simulated game; Rockies’ Wolters off to fast start
Even a spring tuneup for Chris Sale drew a nice crowd.
The Boston newcomer threw a two-inning simulated game Wednesday morning in preparation for his first spring training action, saying “everything is going as planned.”
Sale stayed at camp in Fort Myers, Fla., while the Red Sox traveled to Sarasota to face the Orioles. The lefty ace faced teammates Dan Butler and Steve Selsky, with catcher Sandy Leon behind the plate and fellow pitchers David Price and Steven Wright watching from the thirdbase dugout.
Sale then threw to three additional batters as pitching coach Carl Willis, vice president of pitching development and assistant pitching coach Brian Bannister looked on along with former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield.
“Felt good,” Sale said. “Today was a good work day. Great to pitch on the game mound with no screen. Everything went well.”
Acquired Dec. 6 from the retooling Chicago White Sox for four top prospects, Sale threw 38 pitches.
There was some solid contact in the first inning, when Butler lined what would have been a single to center.
“Threw all of my pitches,” Sale said. “In the second inning focusing mostly on fastball/ changeup. Those are my feel pitches, so I just wanted to throw those more, just for repetition.’”
Sale is slated to start Monday against Houston in West Palm Beach.
“I think I was ready on Dec. 7,” Sale said. “I’ve been preparing for this, so I’m feeling good.”
Colorado’s Tony Wolters had two hits, making him 5-for-8 this spring, and Nolan Arenado drove in a run for the Rockies in a 3-1 victory over a San Diego split squad.
Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood went two innings, allowing a run in the first after leadoff hit Manuel Margot tripled.
San Diego starter Paul Clemons went three innings, giving up a two-out RBI single to Arenado in the first. Cesar Vargas walked five and gave up two runs in the fourth.
AL MVP Mike Trout got two hits and was hit by a pitch from A.J. Griffin as the Los Angeles Angels beat Texas 3-2. The Angels are 5-0 this spring, and are unbeaten in their last 16 exhibition games (14-0-2) dating to last year.
Joc Pederson hit a threerun homer for the Dodgers after starter Scott Kazmir went 1⅔ innings in LA’s 7-6 win over San Francisco.
Matt Cain had a rocky start for the Giants, allowing five hits and three runs over two innings.
Detroit’s Michael Fulmer struck out three in two scoreless innings and James McCann had two hits and drove in two runs for as a Detroit split squad beat Toronto 5-4.
Baltimore’s Adam Jones hit two homers and drove in three runs and Orioles starter Dylan Bundy gave up one earned run in two innings as the Orioles beat Boston 12-5.
DODGERS-MARINERS
TRADE: Seattle acquired righthander Chase De Jong from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a pair of minor leaguers Wednesday.
The Mariners sent infielder Drew Jackson and pitcher Aneurys Zabala to the Dodgers, and designated infielder Mike Freeman for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
De Jong, 23, is coming off a stellar 2016 season mostly spent at Double-A where he went 15-2 with a 2.82 ERA in 26 starts with Tulsa. He was promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City for one game. He was named the Texas League pitcher of the year last season. Seattle general manager Jerry Dipoto says the Mariners see De Jong as “knocking at the door,” of being a starter in the majors.