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MLB Notes: Indians turn season’s first triple play

Indians first baseman Carlos Santana catches a sacrifice bunt to start a triple play against the White Sox. (Associated Press)

Carlos Santana had quite a debut at first base for the Cleveland Indians.

Normally a catcher, Santana started the first triple play of the season, which helped lead host Cleveland to its first win, 7-1 over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

With runners at first and second put in motion by Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen in the fourth inning, Santana made a diving catch of a bunt by Alexei Ramirez. He caught the ball inches inside the foul line about halfway between home and first.

Santana scrambled to his feet and threw to second baseman Orlando Cabrera at first base to double off A.J. Pierzynski. Cabrera then threw to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera at second base for the putout on Carlos Quentin, who had no time to get back to the bag.

It was Cleveland’s first triple play since Asdrubal Cabrera turned an unassisted one against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 12, 2008.

Chicago had not hit into a triple play since April 22, 1978, at Toronto.

Longoria on 15-day DL

Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained muscle in his left side.

The strained oblique muscle could sideline the All-Star third baseman a minimum of three weeks, manager Joe Maddon said before the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Rays filled the roster by purchasing the contract of infielder Felipe Lopez from Triple-A Durham.

Longoria was 0 for 5 with a walk through two games.

The Boston Red Sox have dropped Carl Crawford in their batting order, moving their new $142 million man from third to seventh in the order.

Crawford went 0 for 7 with four strikeouts and a walk over his first two games for Boston. Manager Terry Francona said that “it’s obvious he’s trying too hard,” so he eased the pressure for Sunday’s game against the Texas Rangers.

Crawford responded by going 2 for 4 with one RBI on Sunday.

Around the bases

Matt Holliday’s injury convinced Cardinals manager Tony La Russa to bat his pitcher eighth for the first time this season. La Russa said if Holliday were healthy he would have used a standard lineup card Sunday with the Cardinals trying to avoid a three-game season-opening sweep against the Padres. … The Indians have released minor leaguer Preston Mattingly, the son of Dodgers manager and former Yankees star Don Mattingly. … The Braves put right-handed pitcher Jair Jurrjens on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique muscle. The Braves recalled left-hander Mike Minor from Triple-A Gwinnett. Jurrjens was hurt in Atlanta’s game against Toronto on March 24 and has been slow to recover.