Mar 26, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Alex Monsalve (left) gets a pat on the back after a home run during the ninth inning of a MLB spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium. The Blue Jays won 4-3. Photo Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Closer Francisco Rodriguez gave up bases-empty homers to Alex Monsalve and Christian Lopes in the ninth inning, and Toronto Blue Jays posted a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in Lakeland, Fla. Toronto’s Ryan McBroom hit his third homer of the spring in the seventh inning.
Nick Castellanos had his fourth homer and eighth double for the Tigers, and Jordan Zimmermann gave up two hits and one earned run in 5 1/3 innings in the most efficient of his five spring starts.
Red Sox 7, Twins 2
Chris Sale gave up six hits and struck out six in five scoreless innings, and Christian Vazquez, Andrew Benintendi and Steve Selsky homered for Boston at Fort Myers, Fla. Benintendi’s homer was his third. Kyle Gibson gave up four hits and struck out four in six scoreless innings for the Twins, dropping his ERA to 1.59 in seven spring starts. Eddie Rosario, just back from the World Baseball Classic, had three hits.
Astros 5, Nationals 1
Jake Marisnick and Marwin Gonzalez homered, Jose Altuve stole two bases, and Joe Musgrove improved to 3-0 while dropping his ERA to 2.45 in six spring starts as Houston topped Washington in West Palm Beach, Fla. Bryce Harper drove in his 11th run with a sacrifice fly for the Nationals, and Gio Gonzalez gave up six hits and five runs in five innings.
Cardinals 3, Marlins 0
Mike Leake gave up seven hits, including six singles, and struck out two in six scoreless innings, and Yadier Molina and Dexter Fowler had two hits apiece, including bases-empty homers, as St. Louis topped Florida in Jupiter, Fla. Ichiro Suzuki had two of the Marlins’ eight hits.
Phillies 6, Pirates 3
Maikel Franco hit his fifth homer of the spring and Andrew Knapp had his second in Philadelphia’s five-run first inning off Pittsburgh’s Josh Lindblom in Clearwater, Fla. Phillies starter Clay Buchholz gave up five hits, four walks and three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings. Pirates outfielder Jose Osuna continued his spring surge with a two-run double in the third inning. He is hitting .417 with 16 RBIs.
Yankees 7, Rays 4
Aaron Hicks hit his third homer of the spring and Ruben Tejada hit his first for New York in a win over Tampa Bay at Tampa, Fla. Bryan Mitchell, a candidate for one of two open spots in the Yankees’ rotation, gave up six hits and three runs in three innings. Brad Miller had two singles and two RBIs for the Rays, and Mallex Smith had his fourth stolen base of the spring.
Orioles 2, Blue Jays 1
Third baseman Chris Johnson had two hits and an RBI, and Jayson Aquino gave up one run and struck out four in four innings during his first Grapefruit League start as Baltimore topped Toronto in Dunedin, Fla. Aquino previously made five spring relief appearances. Blue Jays lefty Francisco Liriano gave up two hits and one run and struck out seven in 4 2/3 innings.
Mets 8, Braves 2
Jose Reyes had three hits, including a triple, and Matt Harvey gave up two runs in six innings in his most effective start as New York beat Atlanta in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Yoenis Cespedes had a single and is hitting .395. Tyler Flowers and Emilio Bonifacio had two hits apiece for the Braves. Atlanta’s Matt Wisler gave up eight hits and two runs in five innings during his second spring start.
