Shortstop Jeremy Pena smacked a grand slam to fuel a six-run sixth inning as the host Houston Astros claimed a 6-4 win over Miami on Saturday in Palm Beach, Fla.
Astros starter Framber Valdez fired four scoreless innings, striking out six while allowing just three hits and a walk. Nick Hernandez (1-1) claimed the win despite allowing a run in his 1/3 of an inning. Jose Altuve went 2-for-3 with an RBI in the leadoff spot.
Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara also posted four scoreless innings as he amassed two strikeouts with two hits and one walk. Declan Cronin (0-1) took the loss as he surrendered five runs in relief. Nick Fortes and Otto Lopez poked two hits apiece and Agustin Ramirez popped a solo homer in the ninth.
Braves 7, Red Sox 3
Reigning National League Cy Young winner Chris Sale struck out nine in six innings to pace visiting Atlanta over Boston in Fort Myers, Fla.
Sale (1-1) gave up four hits and two runs – solo homers by Alex Bregman and Triston Casas – during his longest stint this spring. The Braves racked up 14 hits, which included three apiece by Nick Allen and Conner Capel.
Quinn Priester (1-1) started for the Red Sox and allowed six hits, three walks and three runs in his 2 2/3-inning stint. Casas accounted for two of the team’s six hits. Jarren Duran added a double.
Pirates 15, Orioles 5
Henry Davis cracked a grand slam in the eighth to cap the late surge that sent Pittsburgh to the win over visiting Baltimore in Bradenton, Fla.
Oneil Cruz, Jack Suwinski, Nick Gonzales and Ji Hwan Bae added two hits apiece for the Pirates while Cruz swiped his fifth and sixth bases. Starter Carmen Mlodzinski allowed one run and struck out three in his three innings.
Dylan Carlson (2-for-2) led off the game with a homer for the Orioles. Rookie Coby Mayo added a single and double in three trips. Starter Thaddeus Ward gave up five hits, three walks and four runs in his 2 2/3 innings, but Gregory Soto (0-1) took the loss for allowing a run in the fourth.
Phillies 2, Tigers 2
Detroit’s Tarik Skubal and Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler each allowed two runs over five innings to trigger the tie in Clearwater, Fla.
Skubal fanned seven without a walk for the visiting Tigers but gave up six hits and two runs. Colt Keith collected two of Detroit’s three hits, which included a two-run double off Wheeler in the first.
Wheeler struck out three while allowing three hits, one walk and two unearned runs for the Phillies. Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh posted two hits apiece while Harper and Trea Turner notched RBIs.
Rays 7, Yankees 7
Tres Barrera drilled a two-run single with two outs in the ninth to cap a three-run inning and give host Tampa Bay the tie with New York in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Rays starter Drew Rasmussen struck out six with no walks over four innings but allowed five hits and three runs. Jose Caballero and Kenneth Piper poked two hits and scored one run apiece.
Jasson Dominguez went 2-for-4 with an RBI triple and Jorbit Vivas rapped three hits for the Yankees. Starter Will Warren fanned four with no walks over four innings but also allowed five hits and three runs.
Cardinals 9, Blue Jays 5
Alex Burleson and Lars Nootbaar cracked home runs as host St. Louis never trailed against Toronto in Jupiter, Fla.
The Cardinals lashed 16 hits as Brendan Donovan (3-for-4), Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado, Burleson and Nootbaar each enjoyed multiple-hit days. Starter Andre Pallante (2-0) stretched out to five innings and posted five strikeouts, two walks, six hits and three runs (two earned).
Robert Brooks and Will Robertson provided ninth-inning homers for the Blue Jays, who also got two hits from Ernie Clement. Starter Bowden Francis gave up seven hits and three runs while fanning five during his 3 2/3 innings. Brendon Little (1-1) allowed two runs in the fifth to take the loss.
