BALTIMORE -- Two shaky defensive plays by Pablo Sandoval in the bottom of the first inning led to three runs and Chris Sale throwing 39 pitches.

"We didn't execute in the first inning," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "It cost him another 15, 18 pitches in the first inning. But that's the competitor in him to get through that inning on one of the hotter days that we've faced. Still, there are going to be more hot ones but still, on a day when his competitive spirit had to come out, it was there."

Chris Sale got his pitch count under control enough to last 6 innings. He allowed three runs, all earned, six hits and one walk while striking out nine. The Red Sox won 7-3 over the Orioles.

Not only did his competitive spirit come out here Sunday at Camden Yards, but also his leadership.

He showed how a starting pitcher -- despite taking the ball once every five days -- can lead a team. And with this team perhaps lacking some leadership, he has the type of personality to make this his team.

Joey Rickard doubled to lead off the first inning and Manny Machado walked with one out.



With the double steal on, Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon's throw to third beat Rickard but Sandoval failed to apply the tag in time as Rickard did a nice swim move to avoid it. But Sandoval should have made the tag despite Rickard doing a nice job to avoid it. The throw was there well ahead of him.

Sale then should have been out of the inning when Trey Mancini grounded to third with two outs but Sandoval's throw to second base went into right field.

It was ruled a fielder's choice as second baseman Deven Marrero didn't cover the second base bag. It appeared like Marrero pointed to first to tell Sandoval to throw there.

"It's a 3-2 count, runners on the move, that's a play you've got to go across the diamond (to first base)," Farrell said.

Sale said those types of things happen out there sometimes.

"I don't get mad at anyone out there other than myself -- maybe an umpire once in a while" Sale joked. "Mistakes are going to happen. That's part of it. For me, I really wanted to pick him up right there, kind of break through that.

"The thing that was even bigger for me to see was Pablo's next at-bat after all that happened," Sale added. "He didn't hang his head. He wasn't pouting about it. He came up with a plan and was ready to go. And he ripped a double in the gap. I think that speaks a lot about who he is -- his character. The type of teammate he is. You see something like that, it lifts you up a little bit. And I think it got our team going in the right direction."

Sandoval probably lacks some confidence right now. He's basically a platoon player (starting vs. only right-handers). Farrell removed him in the eighth inning Sunday for defensive purposes after saying earlier this week he might occasionally replace him at third late in games.

All Sale really needed to say was, "Mistakes are going to happen."

But he pointed out something Sandoval did well and mentioned how it helped rally the team. Sale initially told reporters how he wanted to pick up Sandoval for his miscue but he ended up saying Sandoval picked up him (and the Red Sox).

That's Leadership 101, isn't it?

"I always have it in the back of my mind that this team can do anything at any time, anywhere, any minute and against anybody," he said. "So having that going forward is the kind of thing that picked me up today."