Sale looks strong in Red Sox debut
Sandy Leon hit a three- run homer in the 12th inning — his third hit of the game — and Chris Sale pitched seven dominant innings in his Red Sox debut to lead the hosts to a 3- 0 victory over the Pirates on Wednesday night.
Sale allowed three hits and one walk in 104 pitches in seven innings. He struck out seven.
“It’s nice to get the win. All the better to walk it off. It’s special,” Sale said. “If you told me tonight it was going to be 0- 0 in the 12th, I probably would have given you a crazy look.”
“He was nasty,” Leon said. “He was mixing his pitches, getting ahead in the count. He was fun to catch.”
Leon also doubled in the third inning but got thrown out at the plate after running through thirdbase coach Brian Butterfield’s stop sign. It was scoreless into the bottom of the 12th, when Antonio Bastardo walked Jackie Bradley Jr. and Pablo Sandoval with one out. Leon followed with a drive over the Green Monster.
Lindor’s grand slam gives Indians sweep
Francisco Lindor hit a go- ahead grand slam off closer Sam Dyson in the ninth inning, and the defending American League champions completed a season- opening sweep of the host Rangers.
Lindor’s first career slam and second homer of the game came after he put the Rangers ahead in the fifth when the shortstop misjudged Joey Gallo’s speed, couldn’t beat the slugger to second base on an attempted two- out force play and allowed two runs to score on a throwing error.
Dyson ( 0- 2) loaded the bases and walked in a run before Lindor’s homer down the right- field line during the Indians’ five- run ninth. Dyson blew his first save after giving up three runs in a tie game in an 8- 5 loss on Opening Day.
Mattingly: Jeter interested in being owner
Marlins manager Don Mattingly says Derek Jeter, his successor as captain of the Yankees, has “always talked about” owning a team one day.
Mattingly was asked before the Marlins’ game at the Nationals about a report on FoxBusiness. com that said Jeter and former Florida governor Jeb Bush were among those who could try to buy the Marlins from Jeffrey Loria. Marlins president David Samson said in February that multiple groups were interested in purchasing the club.
Comings and goings
The Athletics put reliever John Axford on the 10- day disabled list retroactive to Sunday with a strained right shoulder. The Reds claimed utility player Tyler Goeddel off waivers from the Phillies and optioned him to Class AAA Louisville. The Brewers claimed utilityman Nick Franklin off waivers from the Rays. AP