JUPITER, Fla. — There was no hesitation from Yadier Molina. The St. Louis Cardinals catcher stepped up and made the play.

Molina executed the maneuver that got him injured, a sweeping tag at the plate, saving a run in his spring training debut.

“I was ready, I wasn’t thinking about anything,” Molina said after playing three innings against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday. “I just tried to get the guy and everything went right.”

Molina wore a splint to protect his surgically repaired thumb and played three innings, but did not bat after being listed ninth in the lineup. He was on deck when Jedd Gyorko was caught stealing to end the second but said he’d have gone to the plate with orders to just keep taking.

RANGERS: Prince Fielder returned to Texas on Wednesday to take part in a sleep study after having trouble getting rest during spring training.

The study is supposed to last 48 hours. Fielder is expected back in camp by the weekend.

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The star first baseman and designated hitter had been having problems sleeping since arriving at camp in Arizona.

CUBS: NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta struck out four in two perfect innings of his spring debut as Chicago lost to Cleveland in Mesa, Arizona.

Corey Kluber, who won the AL Cy Young in 2014, pitched three scoreless innings for the Indians. He gave up two singles in the second and later walked Dan Vogelbach to fill the bases with two outs before retiring Juan Perez on a groundout.

DIAMONDBACKS: Zack Greinke escaped a bases-loaded jam and pitched three scoreless innings in his second spring training outing as the new ace in Arizona in an 8-4 win over San Diego.

ASTROS: AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel pitched two shutout innings in his spring training debut Wednesday, and the Houston Astros went on to beat the Atlanta Braves 9-5.

TIGERS: Outfielder Justin Upton had his hand stepped on by center fielder Anthony Gose while going after a short fly ball and was replaced in the second inning. Ausmus said there were no stitches and it was a precautionary measure.

METS: Jacob deGrom allowed one run in three innings in his spring training debut for the New York Mets, who tied the New York Yankees 4-4 in 10 innings.


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