Spring training roundup: Ryan Weathers helps Marlins shut out Astros

 

[March 11, 2024]  Ryan Weathers pitched five shutout innings -- striking out seven and walking none -- as the visiting Miami Marlins blanked the Houston Astros 3-0 Sunday afternoon in a split-squad game in Palm Beach, Fla.

Weathers (1-0) gave up three hits in lowering his spring ERA to 1.32 over four games and 13 2/3 innings. Teammates Trey Mancini and Nick Gordon each had two hits; Mancini homered in the second inning.

Houston was held to six hits by Weathers and two relievers. The Astros used eight pitchers, with the first reliever -- Ryan Pressly (0-1) -- taking the loss after giving up Mancini's solo shot in the second inning.

The Marlins won despite getting one fewer hit than the Astros.

Cardinals 12, Marlins 8

Thomas Saggese went 4-for-4 and drove in six runs to power visiting St. Louis past Miami's split squad in Jupiter, Fla.

Saggese had only one extra-base hit in his barrage -- a three-run double in the eighth inning. He is batting .391 this spring.

Miami scored four runs in the third inning, two on Josh Bell's homer to center.

Tigers 3, Mets 2

Brant Hurter surrendered one run over the first three innings, and Jace Jung and 22-year-old Colt Keith drove in one run apiece to lead visiting Detroit past New York in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

For New York, Adrian Houser pitched 3 1/3 perfect innings with five strikeouts, and Mark Vientos and Tomas Nido hit solo homers.

All of Detroit's scoring was done in the final three innings. The Tigers held on after taking a 3-1 lead in the eighth.

Red Sox 7, Rays 6

Bobby Dalbec hit a grand slam in the sixth inning as Boston took a 7-5 lead and held on to defeat Tampa Bay in the finale of the teams' two-game set in the inaugural Dominican Republic Series in Santo Domingo.

Ceddanne Rafaela hit his second homer of the spring in the fifth inning before Dalbec's grand slam for the Red Sox an inning later. Garrett Whitlock started and held Tampa Bay to three runs (two earned) on three hits over 3 1/3 frames.

Richie Palacios went 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs for the Rays, who were swept in the brief series.

Phillies 9, Pirates 7

A fielding error by Pittsburgh second baseman Termarr Johnson allowed Matt Kroon to reach base and Erick Brito and Carson Taylor to score in the top of the ninth inning, and Philadelphia held off host Pittsburgh in Bradenton, Fla.

Kody Clemens hit a grand slam in the fourth inning to tie the game 5-5 for the Phillies, and Garrett Stubbs had two hits to raise his spring batting average to .429.

Oneil Cruz hit a solo homer and a two-run shot and Bryan Reynolds also homered to help the Pirates build a 5-0 lead. The teams combined for 21 hits; Philadelphia had 11.

Yankees 9, Braves 8

Juan Soto's fourth home run of the spring put the Yankees ahead for good, Jose Trevino had a solo homer and host New York ended a five-game losing streak with a victory over Atlanta in Tampa, Fla.

Oswaldo Cabrera had three hits to pace the Yankees' 17-hit attack. Trevino, who added a second RBI on a sacrifice fly, was making his spring debut after being out with a calf injury.

Atlanta banged out 11 hits and led 4-0 after the first inning, buoyed by Sean Murphy's three-run double. Luke Williams and Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. homered for the Braves.

Blue Jays 6, Orioles 6

Alan Roden went 3-for-4 with a homer and two runs to help Toronto tie host Baltimore in Sarasota, Fla.

For the Orioles, Adley Rutschman had a leadoff homer, and starting pitcher Corbin Burnes gave up five runs and six hits in three innings to increase his spring ERA to 12.71. He walked one and struck out two.

Both teams entered the game with winning streaks -- the Orioles at four games and the Blue Jays at three.

Orioles 11, Blue Jays 6

Anthony Santander had two home runs and four RBIs and Ryan McKenna went 2-for-3 with a homer to lead Baltimore over host Toronto in Dunedin, Fla., in the second of two split-squad games between the teams.

The Orioles finished with 14 hits, including five home runs. Jackson Holliday and Michael Perez also went yard.

Alejandro Kirk hit a two-run homer for the Blue Jays, who wound up with nine hits.

Nationals 7, Twins 3

Riley Adams and James Wood had two hits and two runs apiece as visiting Washington beat Minnesota in Fort Myers, Fla.

Nationals starter Joan Adon (1-0) threw three scoreless innings with two hits and a walk.

Max Kepler hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning to lead the Twins. Starting pitcher Pablo Lopez (0-2) gave up four runs (three earned) and five hits in four innings.

Reds 5, Guardians 3

Tyler Stephenson clubbed a three-run homer in the fourth to provide what ended up being the winning runs as host Cincinnati held off Cleveland in Goodyear, Ariz.

The Reds led 5-0 before the Guardians started chipping away in the eighth, pulling within 5-2. Jhonkensy Noel added an RBI double in the ninth, but that was all Cleveland would get as Cincinnati hung on.

Reds starter Nick Lodolo (1-0) logged two shutout innings for the win. Guardians counterpart Xzavion Curry (0-1) was touched up for two runs on two hits in three innings.

Dodgers 12, Diamondbacks 1

Chris Taylor ripped a grand slam and Freddie Freeman chipped in with three RBIs in Los Angeles' rout of visiting Arizona in Glendale, Ariz.

Mookie Betts went 3-for-3 with two runs for the Dodgers, who collected 14 hits as a team. Betts is now hitting .464 this spring.

Los Angeles right-hander Gavin Stone (3-0) got more than enough run support. He went four shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out five without issuing a walk. Blaze Alexander had a run-scoring single for the Diamondbacks.

Athletics 6, Royals 3

Abraham Toro hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the third, propelling host Oakland past Kansas City in Mesa, Ariz.

Toro also walked with the bases loaded in the second, finishing with four RBIs on the day. The Royals had built a 3-0 lead thanks to Nick Pratto's three-run shot in the top of the inning.

The Athletics' rally made a winner out of Paul Blackburn (2-0), who surrendered three runs on seven hits in four innings. Kansas City starter Brady Singer (1-1) experienced a shellacking, giving up six runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Cubs 5, Rangers 1

Drew Smyly went 3 1/3 innings scoreless innings and Jordan Wicks provided 4 1/3 strong innings of relief to lead visiting Chicago past Texas in Surprise, Ariz.

Smyly (2-1) scattered four hits, walking one and fanning four. Wicks allowed just one unearned run and two hits, also picking up seven strikeouts.

Michael Busch and Chase Strumpf each had a solo home run for the Cubs. Andrew Knapp scored on a fielding error to account for the Rangers' only run.

Giants 5, White Sox 4

Tom Murphy plated Wade Meckler with his walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth as host San Francisco edged Chicago in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The White Sox entered the final frame trailing 4-3, but Korey Lee's sacrifice fly evened the score. Jose Cruz (1-1) came away with the win despite blowing a save.

Chicago starter Chris Flexen didn't allow a run in three innings. He allowed three hits, walked two and struck out two.

Angels 5, Padres 4

Brandon Drury capped a five-run sixth with a two-run home run and Los Angeles earned a come-from-behind victory over visiting San Diego in Tempe, Ariz.

Aaron Hicks added a two-RBI double and Taylor Ward had a run-scoring single as the Angels completely erased a 4-0 deficit. Los Angeles' bullpen was primarily responsible for creating the hole, as starter Chase Silseth gave up just one run on one hit in four innings.

Padres starter Jhony Brito was equally impressive, going 4 2/3 shutout innings. He surrendered four hits, issued three walks and fanned six. Eguy Rosario plated a pair of runs with a double for San Diego.

Mariners 8, Giants 3

Jorge Polanco blasted two homers, including a grand slam, as host Seattle had little trouble with San Francisco's split squad in Peoria, Ariz.

Polanco ripped a solo shot in the first and cleared the bases with another long ball an inning later to help the Mariners build an early 6-2 lead. All six runs came off Giants starter Tommy Romero (0-1).

Jimmy Glowenke homered and Casey Schmitt had a two-run base hit for San Francisco.

Rockies 3, Brewers 1

Sterlin Thompson laced a go-ahead RBI triple in the seventh, then scored an insurance run, helping Colorado clip visiting Milwaukee in Scottsdale.

Jordan Beck drove in Thompson with a single for the Rockies, who have won nine of their 15 spring-training games. Nick Mears (1-0) was the winning pitcher thanks to a scoreless inning of relief, and Gavin Hollowell closed the door for his third spring save.

Brewers starter Jakob Junis had to settle for a no-decision after working four no-hit innings.

--Field Level Media

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