After Edman stole second base, Will Smith delivered an RBI single to center field off Pierce Johnson as Sale was charged with three runs while pitching into the sixth. All evidence of Sale’s five dominating innings to open the game was lost.

Dodgers left-hander Tanner Scott pitched a perfect ninth inning for his second save.

Named the No. 5 starter out of spring training, May wasn’t needed until the seventh game of the season as the result of two games at Japan in mid-March against the Chicago Cubs and a long wait until the home opener Thursday.

After his final start of the spring, May revealed that Tuesday’s outing would be an emotional one. There was not only the long recovery from Tommy John surgery, but a life-threatening situation when May tore his esophagus while eating a salad.

“It’s kind of really made him appreciate taking the mound, being active in the big leagues,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of May. “I think that earlier on (in his career) there’s a lot of youthful enthusiasm, emotion. I think now that he’s understanding how to channel it better, how to conserve energy into his starts. Certainly, growth.

“I think that, just like all things as you get experience, different (challenges), you kind of have a different perspective on things.”

Betts had his own trying time to start the season when a two-week stomach bug led to nearly 20 pounds in weight loss. Any concerns that he would lack strength in the early going have been forgotten with three home runs, including a two-homer game in a victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday.