Sale struggles as Red Sox drop home opener against Blue Jays
BOSTON (AP) — Chris Sale let a Toronto runner steal home, Mookie Betts fanned with two on for the final out and the champion Boston Red Sox stumbled again, losing to the Blue Jays 7-5 Tuesday in their home opener.
After receiving their World Series rings during a ceremony that included the Super Bowl champ New England Patriots, the Red Sox fell to 3-9. A return to Fenway Park failed to shake the doldrums that plagued Boston during a season-opening trip to Seattle, Oakland and Arizona.
Red Sox sparkplug Dustin Pedroia went 1 for 4 in his first major league game since May. He played only three times last year while slowed by a knee injury.
The game also made history: It was the first big league matchup of managers born in Puerto Rico, with Toronto’s Charlie Montoyo topping Boston’s Alex Cora.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. stole home and had an RBI single as Toronto ended a four-game losing streak. Freddy Galvis drove in two runs to back Matt Shoemaker (3-0), who allowed two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Sale (0-3) surrendered five runs and seven hits before being pulled after four innings.
DETROIT (AP) — Corey Kluber earned his first win of the season in his third start, powered by four Cleveland home runs.
The Indians won their fifth straight game. Detroit had won five in a row.
Kluber (1-2) allowed one earned run over six innings. A two-time Cy Young Award winner who went 20-7 last season, he struck out eight.
Leonys Martín, Brad Miller, Roberto Perez and Jake Bauers all entered with sub-.200 batting averages before hitting their first homers of the season. Cleveland had hit a total of only four home runs this year before connecting at Comerica Park.
Detroit’s Jordan Zimmermann (0-1) gave up five runs and was chased in the fifth inning.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Matt Kemp started Cincinnati’s spree of three consecutive homers, and the Reds stopped their eight-game losing streak after their manager and an outfielder were suspended.
The Reds hit five homers in all as they won for the first time since opening day.
The Reds were missing outfielder Yasiel Puig and manager David Bell, suspended for their part in a fracas in Pittsburgh on Sunday. Puig decided to serve his two-game suspension rather than appeal. Bell got a one-game punishment, and bench coach Freddie Benavides took his place for the series opener.
Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo (1-1) struck out eight in seven innings.
Miami right-hander José Ureña allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings.
CHICAGO (AP) — Austin Meadows homered and set a career high with four hits, powering Tampa Bay to the win.
The Rays pounded Ervin Santana (0-1) and improved to 9-3, their best start in nine years. They also extended a club record by clinching their fourth straight series victory to start a season.
Avisaíl García smacked a solo homer in the second and finished with three hits, giving him five in the past two games. The White Sox opted not to offer him a contract in the offseason, parting ways after 5½ years, and he signed with Tampa Bay.
Charlie Morton (2-0) went five innings for the win, allowing two runs and three hits.
Yoán Moncada hit a two-run homer for the White Sox. Tim Anderson had two hits, including an RBI single in a three-run eighth.
