Alex Bregman belted two of the Houston Astros’ six home runs, finishing 3-for-4 with six RBIs in a 13-5 romp over the host New York Mets in spring training action Saturday in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Kyle Tucker, Shay Whitcomb, Jordan Brewer and Pedro Leon also went deep for the Astros, who jumped out to an 8-1 lead after four innings and never looked back.
Houston starter Cristian Javier (3-1) benefited from the run support, limiting New York to just one run over 4 2/3 innings. He gave up two hits, walked three and struck out three.
New York’s Jose Quintana was roughed up in his start, allowing five runs on three hits over three innings with four walks and six strikeouts.
Nick Lorusso was a bright spot offensively, going 2-for-2 with two RBIs.
Tigers 10, Blue Jays 7
Andy Ibanez went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and four RBIs as visiting Detroit’s split squad outslugged Toronto in Dunedin, Fla.
Jake Rogers and Akil Baddoo ripped two-run shots to back Tigers starter Kenta Maeda (2-1), who managed to pick up the win despite giving up 10 hits and six runs in 3 2/3 innings. He also struck out seven and walked one.
For the Blue Jays, starter Yusei Kikuchi also endured a rough day, charged with eight runs on six hits – including three homers — over 3 1/3 innings. Justin Turner ripped a three-run homer for Toronto.
Orioles 6, Rays 4
Kolten Wong and Colton Cowser hit home runs as visiting Baltimore built a six-run lead before holding off a Tampa Bay split squad in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Baltimore starter Julio Teheran (1-1) pitched four shutout innings, limiting Tampa Bay to just one hit while walking two and whiffing three.
Meanwhile, Rays starter Zach Eflin (0-3) struck out eight in six innings but was touched for three runs and five hits and walked one. Randy Arozarena began the comeback with a solo blast, but Baltimore’s bullpen closed it out.
Tigers 11, Yankees 6
In a game that featured 13 runs over the first three innings, Detroit’s split squad prevailed over the visiting Yankees in Lakeland. Fla.
Parker Meadows, Kerry Carpenter and Carson Kelly all homered and drove in two runs apiece for the Tigers, who overcame a tough start by Brant Hurter (five runs on five hits in three innings).
For the Yankees, Jahmai Jones and Caleb Durbin went deep and drove in two runs each, but it wasn’t nearly enough. Starter Cody Poteet (0-1) was roughed up for eight runs on eight hits over 2 1/3 innings.
Pirates 4, Red Sox 1
Five Pittsburgh pitchers held visiting Boston to just five hits and benefited from late run support in Bradenton, Fla.
Edward Olivares broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run shot in the eighth off losing Red Sox pitcher Cody Scroggins (1-1). Jared Jones started for Pittsburgh and allowed an unearned run on four hits over five innings.
Boston Opening Day starter Brayan Bello went 5 1/3 innings, yielding just one run on five hits while striking out seven and walking three.
Rays 5, Braves 2
Aaron Civale outdueled Atlanta ace Spencer Strider as a visiting Tampa Bay split squad prevailed in North Port, Fla.
Civale (1-1) was sharp over six innings, allowing one run on three hits with six whiffs and one walk. Curtis Mead and Francisco Mejia backed Civale with two hits and two RBIs apiece.
Strider (3-1) took his first spring loss as he was charged with two runs and four hits over four innings. He fanned six and walked one. Ozzie Albies and Cal Conley swatted solo shots for Atlanta.
Phillies 6, Yankees 6
Oscar Gonzalez hit a game-tying RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning as New York and visiting Philadelphia played to a tie in Tampa, Fla.
Yankees starter Carlos Rodon had his roughest start this spring, charged with six runs (five earned) and seven hits in four innings. Oswaldo Cabrera smashed a two-run shot to highlight New York’s 11-hit attack.
Phillies starter Spencer Turnbull delivered three scoreless innings with five whiffs and no walks, but the bullpen allowed six runs over six innings. Cristian Pache collected three of his team’s 10 hits and scored two runs.
Nationals 2, Cardinals 2
Alec Burleson and Thomas Saggese notched RBI hits in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift host St. Louis into a tie with Washington in Jupiter, Fla.
Victor Robles’ RBI single had given Washington a 2-0 lead in the top of the ninth, but Jordan Weems couldn’t nail down the save. Starter Jake Irvin blanked St. Louis over six innings of one-hit ball.
Cards starter Miles Mikolas held the Nats in check, yielding one run on six hits over five innings. He struck out three and didn’t issue a walk.
Athletics 11, Angels 5
Eight players drove in at least a run as visiting Oakland trounced host Los Angeles in Mesa, Ariz.
The Athletics’ Colby Thomas went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run, while Lawrence Butler also drove in a pair.
For the Angels, Nolan Schanuel belted a two-run blast and Nelson Rada added a solo shot.
Rangers 1, Royals 1
John Rave drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning as host Kansas City and Texas played to a tie in Surprise, Ariz.
Leody Tavares drove in the lone Rangers run with a forceout in the second. Starter Nate Eovaldi blanked the Royals for four innings on two hits.
Six Royals pitchers contained Texas’ bats, scattering eight hits and giving up just the one run.
–Field Level Media
