Spring roundup: Verlander tosses seven shutout innings in Astros win

[March 20, 2018]  Right-hander Justin Verlander gave up five hits over seven shutout innings on Monday to help the Houston Astros record a 2-0 victory over the New York Mets at West Palm Beach, Fla.

Verlander struck out three and walked one while picking up his first victory of the spring. Carlos Correa hit his initial homer of the spring in the second inning, and Jose Altuve delivered a run-scoring single in the third.

Mets left-hander Steven Matz allowed two runs and five hits in six innings while dropping to 0-4 in the spring. Matz struck out nine -- including five straight during one stretch -- and didn't walk anyone.

Other results from Monday's spring training games:

Dodgers 3, Athletics 1

Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson and Trayce Thompson each hit solo homers to lead Los Angeles past Oakland at Phoenix. Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner suffered a broken left wrist on a hit by pitch from Athletics starter Kendall Graveman in the first inning.

Marlins 9, Nationals 1

Derek Dietrich smacked a three-run homer off Max Scherzer and Garrett Cooper and Brian Anderson hit solo shots off the Washington right-hander as Miami cruised to the easy victory at Jupiter, Fla. Moises Sierra recorded a run-scoring single for the Nationals.

Orioles 4, Tigers 2

Jomar Reyes slugged a two-run homer to help Baltimore defeat Detroit at Lakeland, Fla. Jeimer Candelario had a run-scoring double and Chad Sedio added an RBI single for Detroit.

Braves 6, Blue Jays 0

Right-hander Julio Teheran scattered four hits over 6 2/3 innings to improve to 4-0 on the spring as Atlanta blanked Toronto at Kissimmee, Fla. The Blue Jays committed three errors and were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

Red Sox 6, Phillies 5

Chris Madera singled home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning as Boston pushed across four runs in the inning to rally past Philadelphia at Fort Myers, Fla. Aaron Altherr homered and had four RBIs for the Phillies.

Pirates 11, Twins 8

Josh Bell, Jose Osuna and Christopher Bostick each homered as Pittsburgh outlasted Minnesota in a slugfest at Bradenton, Fla. Miguel Sano and Brian Dozier homered for the Twins.

 

Indians 5, Giants 4

Yonder Alonso went 3-for-3 with two home runs and four RBIs as Cleveland edged San Francisco at Scottsdale, Ariz. Giants starter Johnny Cueto served up Alonso's two homers and allowed four runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.

White Sox 15, Diamondbacks 2

Carson Fulmer threw four scoreless innings and Yoan Moncada went 2-for-4 with three RBIs as Chicago routed Arizona at Scottsdale, Ariz. Former All-Star closer Neftali Feliz allowed five runs on five hits and failed to record an out for the D-backs.

Rays 4, Yankees 2

David Rodriguez and Carlos Gomez each hit home runs off Adam Warren in the ninth inning to lead Tampa Bay past New York at Tampa, Fla. Rays starter Blake Snell struck out nine over 4 2/3 innings while Yankees reliever Dellin Betances punched out four in two perfect innings.

Cubs 5, Reds 4

Jon Lester gave up three runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings but moved to 3-1 on the spring as Chicago edged Cincinnati at Goodyear, Ariz. Scooter Gennett went 3-for-3 for the Reds while Jose Peraza added three hits and two RBIs in four at-bats.

Rockies 5, Rangers 1

Jon Gray struck out nine in 6 1/3 scoreless innings as Colorado cruised past Texas at Surprise, Ariz. Ryan Rua broke up the shutout with an RBI single for the Rangers in the bottom of the ninth.

Angels 8, Mariners 4

Zack Cozart had a two-run single as part of a seven-run fifth inning as Los Angeles doubled up Seattle at Tempe, Ariz. Daniel Vogelbach, Mike Ford and Kirk Nieuwenhuis all hit solo homers for the Mariners.

--Field Level Media

[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.