Spring training roundup: Jack Flaherty has stress-free Tigers debut

 

[February 27, 2024]  Jack Flaherty needed to make just 10 pitches in his Detroit Tigers spring training debut as he combined with five relievers to pitch a two-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over the visiting Houston Astros on Monday in Lakeland, Fla.

Flaherty struck out Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers in the first inning. Flaherty, a longtime St. Louis Cardinal, signed a one-year, $14 million contract with Detroit in free agency.

Tyler Holton (1-0) was credited with the win after Riley Greene grounded out to second in the third inning, scoring Akil Baddoo. Brady Allen later ripped a three-run home run to right for the Tigers.

Astros reliever Oliver Ortega (0-1) gave up the Tigers' first run. Houston didn't have a base hit until Dixon Machado's infield single in the sixth.

Red Sox 7, Phillies 6

Chase Meidroth's RBI single tied the game in the bottom of the ninth before Nick Yorke scored the winning run on Andrew Schultz's wild pitch to deliver Boston a comeback win over visiting Philadelphia in Fort Myers, Fla.

The game-ending sequence made a winner out of Red Sox reliever Zachary Fogell (1-0), who walked one in a scoreless top of the ninth. Boston compiled 10 hits but left 10 men on base. Rob Refsnyder had two RBIs.

Whit Merrifield, Darick Hall and Aramis Garcia hit home runs for the Phillies. Schultz (0-1) allowed two hits in the ninth while going for the save.

Orioles 2, Braves 1

Jordan Westburg and Kyle Stowers hit solo shots to help Baltimore edge host Atlanta in North Port, Fla.

Westburg's homer came off Reynaldo Lopez (0-1) in the fourth inning, while Stowers tacked on the crucial second run in the seventh. Forrest Wall went yard in the eighth for the Braves before Baltimore's Nolan Hoffman struck out three in the ninth for the save.

Starters Seth Johnson and Max Fried each went two innings for Baltimore and Atlanta, respectively. Jacob Webb (1-0) pitched a spotless third for the O's.

Rays 8, Orioles 3

Junior Caminero hit a three-run shot and Tanner Murray added a two-run homer as visiting Tampa Bay defeated Baltimore's split squad in Sarasota, Fla.

The Rays' four-run third inning dug them out of an early 2-0 hole after Tyler Nevin went deep for the Orioles. Daniel Johnson also homered for Baltimore.

Jeff Belge (1-0) was the winning pitcher for Tampa Bay after 1/3 inning of work following Trevor Martin's start. O's reliever Cionel Perez (0-1) gave up the four-run third.

Mets 6, Nationals 3

Trayce Thompson hit a grand slam and an RBI single as New York topped host Washington in Palm Beach, Fla.

Thompson's homer to deep left center in the third off Robert Garcia (0-1) scored Pete Alonso, who had two doubles and a walk, as well as Francisco Lindor and Brett Baty. Mets starter Max Kranick (1-0) pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts.

Nationals starter Josiah Gray fanned five with two hits over two innings. Brady House had a two-run single and James Wood added an RBI single.

Yankees 9, Twins 2

Juan Soto hit a game-tying two-run double in the third and Jace Avina had an RBI ground rule double and a run two innings later as host New York blew past Minnesota in Tampa, Fla.

Avina finished 2-for-3 with his RBI and two runs after taking over in right field for Soto. Jorbit Vivas tacked on a three-run home run for the Yankees, while Nestor Cortes scattered seven hits and two runs over 2 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. Reliever Cody Morris (1-0) fanned three over 2 1/3 innings.

Jose Miranda had an RBI double and Jair Camargo drove him in with an infield single to give the Twins a 2-0 lead. Ryan Jensen (0-1) gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in the fifth.

Blue Jays 8, Pirates 4

Brian Serven had five RBIs on a three-run homer and a two-run double as host Toronto cruised past Pittsburgh in Dunedin, Fla.

Yusei Kikuchi (1-0) struck out three and allowed one hit over two innings as the Blue Jays' starter. Nathan Lukes added two of Toronto's 13 hits, including a double.

Termarr Johnson belted two home runs for three RBIs for the Pirates. Starter Roansy Contreras (0-1) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk in two innings.

Cardinals 1, Marlins 1

Ivan Herrera hit an RBI single in the second for St. Louis and Jesus Sanchez responded with one of his own in the third for Miami.

The Marlins were limited to three hits and took nine strikeouts but earned six walks. The Cardinals got nine hits but Miami pitchers rang up 10 strikeouts.

Sem Robberse went two innings as the Cardinals' starter and gave up a hit and walk while fanning two. Marlins starter Eury Perez scattered three hits, one run and three strikeouts over 1 2/3 innings.

Feb 26, 2024; Lakeland, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty (45) pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Angels 11, Giants 9

Ehire Adrianza led off the game with a homer and Hunter Dozier later hit a three-run shot as Los Angeles outslugged San Francisco in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Nelson Rada added two hits and two RBIs for the Angels, who jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

The Giants rallied to move ahead 9-7 on Tyler Fitzgerald's sixth-inning grand slam, but the Angels responded in the seventh with two-run singles from Charles Leblanc and Rada.

Athletics 9, Diamondbacks 8

Drew Lugbauer hit a walk-off solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, lifting Oakland over Arizona in Mesa, Ariz.

The Diamondbacks had tied the game in the top of the ninth on Kevin Newman's RBI double.

Hoy Park socked a three-run homer for the A's, and teammate Lawrence Butler added two hits. Kristian Robinson belted a three-run shot for the Diamondbacks, and Jordan Lawlar and Brett Johnson each hit a solo shot.

Royals 6, Cubs 0

Seth Lugo threw two innings of one-hit ball and Kansas City pitchers combined on a six-hit shutout of Chicago in Surprise, Ariz.

Royals reliever Walter Pennington struck out all three batters he faced in the seventh inning.

Nick Pratto hit a three-run, first-inning homer to spark the Royals' offense.

Mariners 2, Reds (ss) 0

Six Seattle pitchers took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and the Mariners finished with a one-hit shutout of a Cincinnati split squad in Goodyear, Ariz.

Jacob Hurtubise's two-out single in the eighth off Reid Vanscoter ended the no-hit bid. Luis Castillo, Austin Voth and Vanscoter each tossed two innings for the Mariners, who got both of the game's runs on Cole Young's two-run double in the top of the eighth.

Andrew Abbott and Lyon Richardson both threw two shutout innings for Cincinnati.

Rangers 4, White Sox 2

Blaine Crim's two-run, seventh-inning double lifted Texas into the lead against Chicago at Phoenix. Elier Hernandez followed with an RBI single to cap the scoring.

Crim finished with two hits to pace the Rangers' offense.

Yoan Moncada went 2-for-3 and scored a run for the White Sox.

Reds (ss) 8, Brewers 3

Starter Nick Martinez tossed two no-hit innings to help a Cincinnati split squad beat Milwaukee in Phoenix.

Stuart Fairchild and Rece Hinds homers for the Reds, who got two hits apiece from Elly De La Cruz and Tyler Callihan.

Eric Haase, William Contreras and Joey Ortiz each knocked in a run for the Brewers.

Guardians 7, Padres 4

Josh Naylor and Milan Tolentino each collected two hits and two RBIs as Cleveland defeated San Diego in Peoria, Ariz.

Tolentino and David Fry connected on two-run homers for the Guardians.

Cal Mitchell homered and Ethan Salas had two hits for the Padres. San Diego starter Joe Musgrove was tagged for four runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Dodgers 9, Rockies 4

Freddie Freeman hit a two-run single as Los Angeles rolled past Colorado in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Kody Hoese and Taylor Young each had two of the Dodgers' 12 hits.

Kris Bryant and Elias Diaz both hit a home run for the Rockies.

--Field Level Media

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