Spring roundup: Valentin's blast leads Phillies over Rays

[March 14, 2018]  Jesmuel Valentin slugged a three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday at Clearwater, Fla.

A throwing error by Rays third baseman Kevin Padlo prolonged the inning. Valentin then sent a pitch from right-hander Austin Pruitt over the wall in right field for the walk-off blast.

Maikel Franco also homered for the Phillies. Daniel Robertson and Denard Span went deep for Tampa Bay.

Other results from Tuesday's spring training games:

Cardinals 11, Marlins 4

Dexter Fowler and Jose Martinez had three RBIs and Yadier Molina and Yairo Munoz drove in two apiece as St. Louis did all its scoring in the first two innings while routing Miami at Jupiter, Fla. Derek Dietrich homered and Cameron Maybin had a two-run triple for the Marlins.

Blue Jays 13, Braves 6

Luke Maile homered and drove in four runs and Teoscar Hernandez had a homer and three RBIs to lead Toronto past Atlanta at Kissimmee, Fla. Freddie Freeman went 3-for-3 with a solo shot for the Braves, and Ronald Acuna Jr. also went deep.

Orioles 7, Twins 5

Anthony Santander hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning and Baltimore went on to defeat Minnesota at Fort Myers, Fla. Right-hander Lance Lynn struck out five and walked one in three hitless innings in his first spring appearances for the Twins.

Astros 6, Mets (ss) 1

Right-hander Gerrit Cole struck out seven while allowing one run and four hits over four innings to lead Houston past New York at Port St. Lucie, Fla. Brandon Nimmo homered for the Mets' lone run.

Tigers 2, Yankees 2

Victor Reyes delivered the tying single in the ninth inning and Leonys Martin homered earlier in the contest as Detroit and New York played to a nine-inning tie at Tampa, Fla. Didi Gregorius homered for the Yankees.

 

Padres 7, Cubs (ss) 5

Carlos Asuaje went 3-for-3 with a home run as San Diego beat Chicago in Peoria, Ariz. Willson Contreras hit a two-run homer for the Cubs.

Brewers 4, Rangers 3

Jesus Aguilar's two-run homer in the seventh inning erased a 3-2 deficit and lifted Milwaukee past Texas in Phoenix. Cole Hamels threw four innings of one-run ball for the Rangers.

A's 9, Royals 8

Jorge Mateo hit his first two homers of the spring to power Oakland past Kansas City in Surprise, Ariz. Royals starter Danny Duffy was pounded for seven runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Rockies 8, Mariners 7

Derrik Gibson singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, his third RBI of the game, as Seattle beat Colorado at Scottsdale, Ariz. Rob Whalen struck out nine in five innings of one-run ball for the Mariners.

Nationals 7, Mets (ss) 4

Max Scherzer fanned nine while allowing one hit in five shutout innings as Washington topped New York in West Palm Beach, Fla. Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper had two hits, two walks and a stolen base. Amed Rosario homered for the Mets.

Cubs (ss) 2, Giants 1

Tyler Chatwood tossed five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out nine, as Chicago defeated San Francisco in Mesa, Ariz. Ian Happ and Addison Russell homered for the Cubs, while San Francisco got its lone run on a ninth-inning wild pitch.

--Field Level Media

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