Chris Slae Leads Boston Past Minnesota; Ryan Braun Homers Twice As Brewers Take First Place

Players of the Day for Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Grapefruit League

Sale: 5IP, 2H, 0R, 7K

After finishing second to Cleveland's Corey Kluber in the 2017 Cy Young voting, Boston's Chris Sale appears to be ready for the challenges of another long season with his sights set on being the best hurler in the league.


Sale allowed two hits, striking out seven over five innings in Boston's 2-1 win over Minnesota, as the Red Sox moved into Grapefruit League contention, 2 1/2 games behind the Houston Astros.

Sale was in control through his stint. Though he gave up a pair of triples - one in the second and another in the fourth - the Twins were unable to cash in. Sale also didn't issue any walks.

Last season, Sale led the Red Sox to the AL East crown, going 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA.

Cactus League

Braun: 2HR, GS, 5RBI

Taking over first place with their fifth straight win, Ryan Braun and the Milwaukee Brewers made quick work of the Chicago White Sox with an 11-3 beat-down, vaulting past the Cubs for a 1/2-game lead on the Cactus circuit.

Braun, the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year and 2011 NL MVP, socked a pair of home runs in consecutive innings, pasting a solo shot in the opening frame, only to follow up with a grand slam in the second inning. Both blasts came off White Sox starter, Carson Fulmer, and when Travis Shaw followed with a solo shot of his own, Fulmer was done and the Brewers had a 7-0 lead.

Braun's homers were his first of Spring training. Last season, the slugger hit 17 home runs and drove in 52 runs. He will open his 12th season as a major leaguer later this month, all of them with Milwaukee.