Kimbrel makes spring debut, Sale OK for Red Sox opener
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) As left-handers Chris Sale and David Price and lights-out closer Craig Kimbrel go this season, so do the Red Sox.
Sure, there will 22 other players on the roster. But it's not a stretch to say the fortunes of those three pitchers could determine much of Boston's success this season.
The Red Sox got good news on all three Sunday.
The AL East champions had been bringing Sale and Price along slowly this spring in an effort to keep them healthy throughout the season.
Sale went 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA in 32 starts last year, finishing second in the Cy Young Award voting. He then struggled in the second half - his career trend - going 7-4 with a 4.09 ERA in 11 August and September starts.
Price was limited by an elbow injury to 11 starts, a career low in a full season, going 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA.
Sale exited his final spring start on Saturday after facing just four batters, when he was hit on the left hip by a line drive off the bat of Houston's J.D. Davis. Sale immediately crumpled to the ground, but walked off the field on his own power.
On Sunday, manager Alex Cora said Sale would be ready for opening day, on Thursday at the Tampa Bay Rays.
''He was here early,'' Cora said. ''He was going to long toss today and then throw an aggressive bullpen (Monday) and be ready to roll on Thursday. He's looking forward to Thursday.''
Price started Sunday's 6-1 win over the Twins. After a leadoff home run by Brian Dozier, Price settled down, holding Minnesota hitless for the rest of his three-inning outing.
''Every five days I felt better and better,'' said Price, who will start the second game of the season. ''Even as the game went on I continued to feel better. This is the best I've felt for an entire spring training. And I'm excited for Friday.''
Kimbrel had been away from the team for almost three weeks, back in Boston with his family while 4-month-old daughter Lydia Joy, who was born with heart ailments, underwent a second surgery.
Kimbrel returned to camp last week and made his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday, going one scoreless inning and allowing one hit.
''It was good to get back out there and throw my pitches up there to see how they were working,'' he said. ''I wouldn't say I was as sharp as I will be. I had a little weak contact and strong contact out there. Curveball will come. The more I throw it the better it will get. Overall, I thought it was a good day.''
Cora was happy with what he saw from his closer.
''He was good. The ball was cutting. I'm just happy he was out there competing,'' he said. ''For everything that they're going through, for him to be out there and be on the big league field and pitching, that's good.''
Kimbrel had pitched in a minor league game before this outing. He was uncertain if he would get another outing before the season begins.
''We'll see how I feel tomorrow,'' he said. ''If I threw Tuesday, it would be a lot if I have to throw Thursday and Friday, as well.''
