BLUE JAYS Reyes leaves game

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Toronto shortstop Jose Reyes left the Blue Jays’ season opener after his first at-bat because of a tight left hamstring.

Reyes exited Monday in the first inning of the season opener at Tampa Bay.

Reyes led off the game and was robbed of a hit on a diving catch by Rays center fielder Desmond Jennings. He was replaced in the field by Ryan Goins in the bottom of the first.

Reyes sat out several games during the final week of spring training with tightness in the same hamstring. He missed 66 games last season because of an injured left ankle.

RED SOX Victorino on DL

BALTIMORE - The Boston Red Sox put right fielder Shane Victorino on the 15-day disabled list Monday because of a strained right hamstring, making the move before the World Series champions opened the season at Baltimore.

Jackie Bradley Jr. was recalled from Class AAA Pawtucket and Daniel Nava started in right field against the Orioles.

Manager John Farrell said Victorino has a Grade 1 strain.

“It’s going to require some time down,” Farrell said. “Whether that is 15 days or beyond, remains to be seen. As we tapped into our depth last year many times over, unfortunately we’re doing it on Day 1,” he said.

Victorino was hurt while running the bases Saturday in Boston’s final exhibition game. The move is retroactive to Sunday, the day an MRI revealed the strain.

Victorino, 33, won a Gold Glove last season and hit .294 with 15 home runs, 61 RBI and 21 stolen bases. He also got the big hit that helped Boston break open the clinching Game 6 of the World Series against St. Louis.

But the veteran outfielder has had trouble with injuries. He was on the disabled list last year with a strained left hamstring and played only 10 games in spring training following right thumb surgery in December.

Bradley hit .189 in 37 games last season.

INDIANS Gomes signs six-year deal

OAKLAND, Calif. - Catcher Yan Gomes and the Cleveland Indians completed a $23 million, six-year contract Monday after his breakout season last year.

Gomes’ deal includes club options for 2020 and ‘21 that could bring the total to $42 million over eight years - or even $48 million with escalators.

Gomes, 26, hit .294 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI in 88 games last season, his first with the Indians. His new deal supersedes a previous one-year contract for 2014.

The deal replaces a contract he agreed to in early March calling for a $513,000 salary in the majors and $281,000 in the minors.

Gomes receives a $500,000 signing bonus, payable within 30 days of the contract’s approval, and salaries of $550,000 this year, $1 million in 2015, $2.5 million in 2016, $4.5 million in 2017, $5.95 million in 2018 and $7 million in 2019. Cleveland has a $9 million option for 2020 with a $1 million buyout, and if that is exercised the Indians would have an $11 million option for 2021.

The options may escalate by up to $3 million each based on MVP voting, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and All-Star appearances.

Negotiations began during spring training.

Gomes - the first Brazilian-born player in the majors - began last season at Class AAA Columbus, but after being brought up in April he stayed the rest of the year and was a major contributor as the Indians made the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

Gomes was acquired from Toronto on Nov. 2, 2012.

ROCKIES Chatwood sidelined

MIAMI - Colorado Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood will be placed on the disabled list today and will miss his scheduled start Wednesday at Miami because of a strained left hamstring, Manager Walt Weiss said.

Right-hander Jordan Lyles will be recalled from Class AAA Colorado Springs to take Chatwood’s turn, Weiss said before Monday’s opener.

Chatwood was hurt running out a triple in a spring training game Friday. He threw fine in a bullpen session Sunday, Weiss said, but is having trouble covering first base.

Colorado already is without right-hander Jhoulys Chacin, expected to be sidelined until early May because of a shoulder injury.

The move involving Chatwood might be retroactive, meaning he would be out less than 15 days, Weiss said.

TWINS Duensing on paternity leave

CHICAGO - The Minnesota Twins placed lefthander Brian Duensing on the paternity list and recalled right-hander Michael Tonkin from Class AAA Rochester.

The moves were announced before Monday’s opener against the Chicago White Sox.

Duensing’s wife, Lisa, gave birth to a boy named Boston Matthew Duensing in Omaha, Neb. It was the second child for the couple.

Tonkin made nine appearances for the Twins last season and did not have a decision. He gave up 6 runs - 1 earned - in 11 1/3 innings.

Sports, Pages 20 on 04/01/2014