Spring training roundup: Michael Harris II, Braves edge Red Sox

 

[March 08, 2024]  Jordan Luplow and Michael Harris II hit home runs, Bryce Elder struck out six batters in 3 1/3 innings and the visiting Atlanta Braves topped the Boston Red Sox 3-2 in spring training action on Thursday in Fort Myers, Fla.

Luplow's two-run shot off Nick Pivetta (0-1) put the Braves ahead 2-1 in the second before Harris added a solo shot off Tanner Houck in the fifth, his third homer of the spring, for the critical insurance run.

Elder (1-1) walked two and yielded two of Boston's four hits, including Masataka Yoshida's home run in the first inning. Atlanta's pitching staff racked up 12 strikeouts, while Boston's answered with 13.

Rob Refsnyder hit an RBI single in the eighth for the Red Sox but Braves reliever Trey Riley recorded the final out to lock up the save.

Astros 6, Cardinals 3

Chas McCormick went 3-for-3 with an RBI, Cristian Javier fanned six batters in three innings and Houston defeated host St. Louis in Jupiter, Fla.

McCormick's run-scoring single capped a four-run first inning for the Astros, plenty of run support for Javier (2-0), who yielded two runs on three hits and a walk. Grae Kessinger and Joey Loperfido added RBI singles in the seventh after the Cardinals drew within a run.

Jordan Walker and Matt Carpenter homered off Javier for the Cardinals. Kyle Gibson (0-2) was dinged for four runs on five hits while striking out three in three innings.

Rays 3, Phillies 2

Jose Siri hit a two-run infield single to cap a three-run first inning and host Tampa Bay held off Philadelphia in Port Charlotte, Fla.

Harold Ramirez had an RBI single before Siri brought two runs in to improve his spring training total to five RBIs. Rays starter Jacob Lopez (1-0) threw two scoreless, hitless innings with two walks and two strikeouts.

Aramis Garcia drove in two runs in a single for the Phillies, upping his spring total to seven RBIs. Aaron Nola (1-1) struck out five without a walk but allowed three runs on six hits over 3 2/3 frames.

Rangers 7, Diamondbacks 5

Jose Urena (1-0) gave up one run and two hits in four innings, striking out four, as Texas held off Arizona in Surprise, Ariz.

The Rangers took a 7-2 lead into the ninth, thanks to two RBIs each from Cameron Cauley and Joshua Hatcher, but Jonathan Holder allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning. Texas brought in Grant Wolfram, who struck out Timothy Tawa to earn his first save of the spring.

Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen (0-1) gave up two runs on two hits and two walks in two innings in his spring debut.

Brewers 8, White Sox 2

Wes Clarke hit a three-run homer to highlight a six-run fifth inning to help Milwaukee top Chicago in Phoenix.

Yonny Hernandez and Reece Walling each drove in two runs, and Abner Uribe (1-0) threw one scoreless inning to pick up the win.

White Sox starter Dylan Cease gave up one run in three innings, a solo blast to Brewer Hicklen in the second, and struck out five. Bryan Shaw (0-2) lasted just two-thirds of an inning, allowing six runs and five hits.

Mariners 5, Angels 0

Seven Seattle pitchers combined to throw a four-hit shutout as Seattle silenced Los Angeles in Peoria, Ariz.

Starter Bryan Woo (1-0) struck out three in 2 2/3 innings to pick up the win. Leonardo Rivas drove in two of the Mariners' four runs in the eighth inning to add some insurance.

Griffin Canning (0-1) allowed two hits and four walks in 2 2/3 innings but limited Seattle to one run. Mickey Moniak finished with two hits for the Angels.

Mets 3, Nationals 1

Francisco Alvarez hit his second homer of the spring, a two-run shot in the fifth, to help New York rally past Washington in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Jose Quintana gave up one unearned run on four hits in three innings, striking out six in his second start of the spring. Jake Diekman (1-0) pitched a scoreless fifth for the win and Grant Hartwig allowed one hit and no runs in the ninth for the save.

Jake Irvin, who gave up six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings against the Houston Astros on Friday, threw four shutout innings, striking out five, but got a no-decision. Richard Bleier (0-1) gave up the homer to Alvarez and took the loss.

Blue Jays 5, Tigers (ss) 4

Kevin Kiermaier and Daniel Vogelbach each hit solo homers to power Toronto past a Detroit split squad in Lakeland, Fla.

Blue Jays starter Bowden Francis (1-1) struck out five in 3 2/3 innings, limiting the Tigers to one earned run. Hagen Danner gave up a solo homer to Jace Jung in the ninth but still picked up the save.

The Tigers' Parker Meadows went 2-for-3 with a solo blast and Kenta Maeda (0-1) gave up two runs and four hits in three innings in the loss.

Tigers (ss) 11, Yankees 5

Andy Ibanez hit his fourth homer of the spring and added a double as a Detroit split squad downed host New York in Tampa.

Andrew Navigato added a two-run double and an RBI single for the Tigers, who also got two hits apiece from Zach McKinstry and Eliezer Alfonzo.

Austin Wells hit a two-run double and a solo homer for the Yankees. Anthony Volpe added two hits.

Cubs 2, Reds 2

Four Cincinnati relievers combined for six shutout innings in a tie against visiting Chicago in Goodyear, Ariz.

Owen Holt (one inning), Casey Legumina (two innings), Tyler Gilbert (two innings) and Tony Santillan (one inning) teamed to strike out eight while yielding one hit and no walks.

Michael Busch hit a two-run homer for the Cubs, while Spencer Steer had a solo blast for the Reds.

Guardians-Athletics, canceled

The game between Oakland and Cleveland in Mesa, Ariz., was canceled due to rain.

Royals-Rockies, canceled

The game between Kansas City and Colorado in Scottsdale, Ariz., was canceled due to inclement weather.

Dodgers-Giants, canceled

The game between Los Angeles and San Francisco in Scottsdale, Ariz., was canceled due to rain.

--Field Level Media

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