AROUND THE HORN
Indians: Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber pitched three innings in a minor league rehab start, the most significant outing since a line drive broke his right forearm three months ago. Kluber, who was hit May 1 in a game against the Marlins, allowed two HRs and threw 41 pitches for Triple-A Columbus in a game against Pawtucket. He struck out two, walked one and retired the final five batters he faced. Kluber, 33, was 2-3 with a 5.80 ERA in seven starts before the injury. He hopes to return to the Indians rotation this season. “I felt good . ... There’s a progression you have to go through when you’ve been down for a while. This is another step in that progression, but it’s also the last step so to speak. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s fun to get out there and compete.” The righthander’s next scheduled rehab start for Columbus is scheduled for Tuesday.
Red Sox: Chris Sale righted himself and struck out 13 over eight two-hit innings, Sam Travis hit a two-run HR and the Red Sox beat the Angels 3-0 in Boston. Sale (6-11) had allowed 14 runs over nine innings during his previous two starts, both against the rival Yankees. He carved up the Angels in his 13th outing with double-digit strikeouts this season. The Red Sox had lost nine of 10 games. It was a season-high seventh straight loss for the Angels . ... Former AL Cy Young winner David Price was placed on the 10-day IL after an MRI revealed a cyst on his left wrist. The 33-year-old left-hander received a cortisone shot in the wrist. He’s 7-5 with a 4.36 ERA in 21.
Twins: Six-time All-Star slugger Nelson Cruz left the Twins’ home game against the Indians after swinging and missing on a 2-1 pitch and apparently injuring the wrist that bothered him earlier this season. Cruz missed nearly three weeks with a strained left wrist. He entered Thursday’s game hitting .296 with 32 HRs and 76 RBIs in 86 games.
Phillies: Three-time All-Star OF Jay Bruce was reinstated from the IL and played left field and batted fifth against the Giants. Bruce, 32, who was acquired from the Mariners in June, suffered a right oblique strain July 16. He hit .256 with 10 HRs and 29 RBIs in his first 33 games with the Phillies.
Mets: The Mets signed former All-Star reliever Brad Brach. The 33-yearold righty was 4-3 with a 6.13 ERA in 42 appearances for the Cubs this season before they released him earlier this week.
Pirates: Mitch Keller, the Pirates’ top prospect, will be called up soon, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Keller, 23, will join the rotation and likely start early next week against the Angels. It will be his fourth career major league start. He was 0-1 with a 10.50 ERA in his first three starts earlier this season.
Mariners: Mallex Smith doubled leading off the eighth and scored when Daniel Vogelbach beat out a potential inning-ending double play, and the Mariners snapped a five-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Padres on Wednesday in Seattle.