Chris Sale was at his brilliant best as the Boston Red Sox edged at the Tampa Bay Rays, while Kris Bryant went long for the Chicago Cubs.

Star pitcher Sale struck out 12 as the Red Sox beat the Rays 2-1 in MLB action on Saturday.

The former Chicago White Sox ace tossed seven innings and gave up just three hits on his way to his first win since his blockbuster trade to Boston.

This was Sale's 21st 12-strikeout game since the 2012 season - first among all pitchers over that span. Clayton Kershaw has the next most with 13.

The Cubs lost 8-7 to the Pittsburgh Pirates but reigning National League (NL) MVP Kris Bryant starred.

Bryant hit the scoreboard with a 451-foot blast at Wrigley Field.

The Miami Marlins homered four times in their 5-4 win against the New York Mets, the Toronto Blue Jays snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 2-1 walk-off victory against the Baltimore Orioles, the Cleveland Indians accounted for the Detroit Tigers 13-6, the Minnesota Twins shut out the White Sox 6-0, the Colorado Rockies blanked the San Francisco Giants 5-0 and the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 10-6.

Elsewhere, the New York Yankees were 3-2 winners against the St Louis Cardinals, the Kansas City Royals topped the Los Angeles Angels by the same scoreline, the Atlanta Braves overcame the San Diego Padres 4-2, the Philadelphia Phillies outlasted the Washington Nationals 4-2, the Texas Rangers lost 5-0 to the Seattle Mariners, the Los Angeles Dodgers posted an 8-4 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks, while the Milwaukee Brewers went down 7-5 to the Cincinnati Reds.

RAMIREZ STARS FOR INDIANS

Jose Ramirez's good start to the season just got better. The Indians' utility went four for four and reached base all five times he came to the plate in Cleveland's win. More notably, he hit two three-run home runs in the game and drove in six runs. He also had a double and a single.

MARTINEZ IN WEIRD PERFORMANCE

You may not see a start like Carlos Martinez had again this season. While Martinez did have some very good numbers, including 11 strikeouts and just four hits allowed, he walked eight batters in five innings pitched. Yes, eight. Had he had just an ounce more of control the Cardinals likely win a game they lost.

STANTON, THE HOME-RUN KING

Giancarlo Stanton was at it again with this 111.9 mph laser that put the Marlins up for good in the eighth inning over the Mets. 

PIRATES AT CUBS

This would be one to watch on Easter Sunday if just for the rivalry, but considering the fact that both team's aces, Jameson Taillon and Jon Lester, are on the mound for their respective teams, and the Pirates are going for a sweep of the defending champions, that makes this one even more watchable.