Kluber looks sharp, Naquin homers

Corey Kluber had a strong outing and Tyler Naquin homered as the Indians beat the Los Angeles Angels, 7-0, on March 14 in Goodyear, Ariz.

Kluber pitched five innings, giving up one hit and no runs. He struck out four. The Indians’ ace pitcher is carrying a 1.98 ERA this spring.

Naquin provided all the offense Kluber needed with a solo homer in the third. It was the only run Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker gave up in five innings, but it tagged him with the loss. Shoemaker struck out seven.

Edwin Encarnacion added a run-scoring single for the Indians, but the slugger is hitting only .161 in Arizona.

Greg Allen had a sacrifice fly for the Tribe and outfielder Brandon Barnes, who has played previously for the Colorado Rockies and Houston Astros, hit a threerun homer.

The Indians host the Cincinnati Reds on March 15.

NFL

MATHIEU RELEASED» The Arizona Cardinals released one of the team’s most popular players, safety Tyrann Mathieu, on Wednesday after the two sides couldn’t rework his contract.

Mathieu was due for $18.75 million of his contract to be guaranteed when the league year officially begins. By cutting him, Arizona will save close to $5 million in cap space.

Mathieu became a star in the Arizona secondary and a fiery leader of the defense after being selected in the third round of the 2013 draft following a troubled college career at LSU. He was an AllPro in 2015.

But he also has been plagued by injuries and only last season did Mathieu appear in all 16 games.

“I’ve never made a secret that Tyrann has always had a special place in my heart and always will,” Cardinals GM Steve Keim said.