Chris Sale pitched a little longer than Justin Verlander in a matchup of ace pitchers, and it might've cost the Boston Red Sox a chance to split their series with the Detroit Tigers.
Nicholas Castellanos chased Sale with a two-out, go-ahead single in the eighth inning and Ian Kinsler homered in the sixth, lifting Detroit over visiting Boston 2-1 on Monday.
"You've got Sale and Verlander going at it, you assume it's going to be a game like this," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "And they didn't disappoint."
Verlander gave up only an unearned run, three hits and two walks while striking out four over seven innings. Justin Wilson struck out one and walked one in the eighth and Francisco Rodriguez struck out two and allowed a hit in the ninth, earning his second save in three chances to help Detroit win the four-game series.
Sale struck out 10 and gave up two runs and five hits over 7 ⅔ innings in his second start.
As good as Verlander was, the Tigers and their fans were thrilled with the performance of a beleaguered bullpen. "The bullpen is in flux right now," Verlander said. "But I think that will get a lot better as guys settle into their roles."
New York 8, Tampa Bay 1: Michael Pineda retired his first 20 batters before Evan Longoria lined a double down the left-field line, and he wound up pitching two-hit ball over 7 ⅔ innings and left to a standing ovation in the Yankees' home opener win over the Rays.
Oakland 2, Kansas City 0: Khris Davis hit a two-run homer, Jharel Cotton shut down Kansas City's anemic offense and the Athletics held on to spoil the Royals' home opener.
