Spring training roundup: Spencer Strider shines, Braves blank Twins

 

[March 12, 2024]  Ozzie Albies homered, Spencer Strider struck out nine batters over five innings and the host Atlanta Braves three-hit the Minnesota Twins 3-0 in spring training action Monday in North Port, Fla.

Strider (3-0) punched out nearly half the 19 batters he faced and yielded just two hits, one walk and one hit batter. The Braves' ace struck out the side in the second inning.

Albies' shot to right as the second batter of the bottom of the first provided all the run support necessary. Two more runs scored on Luis Liberato's single to center in the eighth.

Twins starter Chris Paddack (0-2) gave up one run on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in four innings. Brooks Lee had a double.

Yankees 5, Orioles 3

Austin Wells' three-run double capped a four-run first inning as host New York took down Baltimore in Tampa, Fla.

Yankees minor league prospect Will Warren (2-0) got the start and allowed one run on three hits and three walks, striking out two in three innings. Wells' double was the Yankees' only extra-base hit of the game, while Alex Verdugo and Caleb Durbin each finished with two hits.

Orioles starter Julio Teheran (0-1) was tagged for four runs on three hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings. Donta' Williams and Connor Norby drove in runs in the ninth but Baltimore failed to make up a four-run deficit.

Yankees 2, Phillies 1

Oscar Gonzalez hit a two-run home run and New York's split squad beat host Philadelphia in Clearwater, Fla.

Gonzalez, whom the Yankees claimed off waivers from Cleveland this offseason, scored Josh VanMeter with his shot to left center in the top of the eighth. Reliever Luis Gil (2-0) struck out eight batters over 3 2/3 scoreless innings and yielded one hit and one walk.

David Dahl brought in the Phillies' only run on a ninth-inning sacrifice fly. Luis Ortiz (0-2) gave up Gonzalez's homer.

Tigers 5, Astros 3

Eddys Leonard and Trei Cruz hit consecutive two-run singles in the eighth inning to guide visiting Detroit past Houston in Palm Beach, Fla.

Tigers pitcher Andrew Vasquez (2-0) struck out two in a perfect inning of relief. Justyn-Henry Malloy piled up three of Detroit's 10 hits and scored two runs.

Jose Altuve had a pair of RBI singles for the Astros. Reliever Misael Tamarez (1-2) blew the save with four earned runs on four hits and two walks over two innings.

Red Sox 1, Pirates 0

Nick Sogard's groundout in the seventh inning plated the only run as host Boston squeaked by Pittsburgh in Fort Myers, Fla.

Mar 11, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Kevin Smith (74) tags out Baltimore Orioles outfielder Daniel Johnson (73) during the fourth inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Both teams finished with just five hits. Cam Booser (1-0) pitched a scoreless, hitless seventh after starter Cooper Criswell yielded two hits over 3 2/3 innings with four strikeouts.

Bailey Falter started for the Pirates and went 3 2/3 frames with one hit, one walk and four strikeouts. Ryder Ryan (0-2) gave up the lone run.

Blue Jays 9, Rays 2

Ernie Clement hit a two-run home run and an RBI single as visiting Toronto trounced Tampa Bay in Port Charlotte, Fla.

The Blue Jays, who finished with 11 hits, rang up a 6-0 lead through 2 1/2 innings. Danny Jansen and Davis Schneider added home runs later on. Starter Mitch White (1-0) gave up two runs on five hits and a walk, fanning two over three innings.

Harold Ramirez's double in the bottom of the third provided the Rays their only two runs. Starter Zach Eflin (0-2) gave up eight runs (four earned) on eight hits in four innings and saw his spring ERA go up to 12.71.

Nationals 11, Cardinals 4

Juan Yepez tallied four RBIs as Washington scored 10 unanswered runs to race past host St. Louis in Jupiter, Fla.

Yepez hit two-run singles during a four-run seventh and a five-run eighth for the Nationals. Jesse Winker, Drew Millas and Alex Call each drove in two runs. Thaddeus Ward (1-0) pitched a perfect sixth inning.

Paul Goldschmidt's run-scoring double gave the Cardinals a 4-1 lead in the fourth before JoJo Romero (0-3) was dinged for four runs on five hits in one inning of work.

--Field Level Media

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