Clevinger takes aim at sign-stealers

Indians pitcher Mike Clevinger doesn’t know exactly how he’ll react the next time he’s on the mound facing the Astros.

They cheated, and he doesn’t like cheaters. On Friday night, he took aim.

Clevinger has been one of the most outspoken critics of the Astros since their sign-stealing scandal broke earlier this month and rocked baseball, leading to suspensions, managerial firings in Houston, Boston and New York.

Once the season begins, the Astros will be under more scrutiny and they might have to deal with some high, hard pitches.

“I think players will deal with it the way it should be across the league,” Clevinger said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a comfortable few ABs (at-bats) for a lot of those boys, and it shouldn’t be. They shouldn’t be comfortable.”

■ The Rockies and All-Star SS Trevor Story finalized a two-year, $27.5 million, two-year deal late Friday, avoiding arbitration. The 27-year-old hit 35 homers and swiped 23 bases last season . ... The Cubs and reliever Jeremy Jeffress finalized a one-year, $850,000 contract . ... Longtime scout and Nationals senior adviser Phil Rizzo has died. He was 90. Phil is the father of Nationals GM Mike Rizzo.

Golf: Brett Quigley won the Morocco Champions in his second PGA Tour Champions start, saving par on the final two holes to hold off Stephen Ames by a stroke in Marrakech, Morocco . ... Six years after combining brilliantly for Europe in the Ryder Cup, Graeme McDowell and Victor Dubuisson will play together in the final group at the Saudi International on Sunday. McDowell birdied four of his last seven holes — including the 18th — to shoot 4-under 66 in the third round and claim a one-stroke lead on 12-under 198 overall at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club. Dubuisson is the nearest challenger after a 65.

Soccer: Ulysses Llanez scored in his U.S. national team debut, and a young American roster opened 2020 with a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica in Carson, Calif. Llanez buried a penalty kick in the corner in the 50th minute, slotting the ball to the left of goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado. Llanez celebrated by miming a fallaway jump shot in a tribute to retired Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash along with eight others last Sunday.