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Chris Sale Shines In Boston Red Sox Debut, Sandy Leon Delivers First Walk Off of 2017

By Logan Jakubajtys

Apr 5, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; The Boston Red Sox wait for catcher Sandy Leon (3) to cross home plate after hitting a walk-off home run during the twelfth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; The Boston Red Sox wait for catcher Sandy Leon (3) to cross home plate after hitting a walk-off home run during the twelfth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chris Sale was nearly flawless in his Boston Red Sox debut, while Sandy Leon delivered a walk off home run to down the Pittsburgh Pirates in extra innings.

Wednesday night’s matchup between the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates became a pitching and defensive battle as both starters pitched extremely well.

Chris Sale made his Red Sox debut and went 7.0 innings with 3 hits, 1 walk, and 7 strikeouts.

Pittsburgh’s starter Jameson Taillon went 7.0 innings with 5 hits, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts. Each bullpen came in to shut things down as well. It was a 0-0 ball game heading into extra innings.

Earlier in the game, Boston had their chances as well. Sandy Leon was thrown out at home plate, and Mitch Moreland was clobbering the ball only to see it end up in an outfielder’s glove. He was robbed of a home run by Andrew McCutchen in right.

Boston was missing their top weapon, Mookie Betts, for this game as he was out with the flu. His bat may have been a difference maker in the game.

The Red Sox utilized five relievers in the game. They got shut down innings from Matt Barnes and Craig Kimbrel, before Heath Hembree and Robby Scott pitched in the 10th. Xander Bogaerts made one of the finest plays a shortstop can make, backhanding a grounder and throwing the runner out at first for the first out in the 10th.

Joe Kelly then got the ball and pitched two innings of one-hit ball.

Jackie Bradley Jr. made a phenomenal catch in centerfield in the top of the 12th to keep Pittsburgh off the base paths.

Pittsburgh brough Antonio Bastardo out for the 12th inning and things fell apart for them.

Bastardo walked Jackie Bradley Jr., and then attempted to pick him off at first base. It seemed the Pirates had JBJ caught, but the outfielder was able to slide safely into second base with a steal. Bastardo then walked third baseman Pablo Sandoval.

This brought up catcher Sandy Leon, who had been thrown out at home earlier in the game. Leon wasted no time at the plate.

On an 0-1 count, Leon clobbered a three-run shot into the Monster seats to give Boston their first walkoff victory of the 2017 season.

The Bottom Line

W: Joe Kelly (1-0)

L: Antonio Bastardo (0-1)

Highlight of the Night: Sandy Leon’s walk off three-run home run

Next: The New Pablo Sandoval

The Red Sox will take on the Pirates again tomorrow afternoon with Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound, if the weather holds up.

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