Brandon Nimmo launched a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth for the New York Mets to tie the visiting New York Yankees 6-6 in their spring training finale Monday in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The Yankees had taken a 6-3 lead thanks to a three-run seventh followed by Spencer Jones’ home run in the eighth. Yankees reliever Jordany Ventura hit a batter and allowed a walk before Nimmo hit his first homer of the spring. Ventura recovered by striking out the next three batters to preserve the tie.
Brett Baty and Pete Alonso also homered for the Mets, who open the season Thursday at the Houston Astros.
Pablo Reyes went 3-for-3 with a solo homer and two runs for the Yankees, who will play an exhibition game against the Marlins in Miami on Tuesday before their regular-season opener Thursday against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.
Phillies 8, Rays 6
Host Philadelphia racked up 13 hits in a victory over Tampa Bay in Clearwater, Fla.
The Phillies took the lead for good in a four-run sixth featuring run-scoring doubles by Rafael Marchan, Johan Rojas (two RBI) and Edmundo Sosa. Kyle Schwarber, Max Kepler and Marcus Lee Sang also hit RBI doubles.
Josh Lowe had a two-run double to give the Rays a 4-3 lead earlier in the game. Taylor Walls added an RBI double.
Twins 5, Pirates 1
Edouard Julien hit a three-run homer, Ty France went 3-for-3 with a run and Minnesota turned back visiting Pittsburgh in Fort Myers, Fla.
Byron Buxton added a solo shot for the Twins, whose starting pitcher Bailey Ober finished the spring 3-0 with a 1.77 ERA after going 3 1/3 innings with one run, two hits and two strikeouts Monday.
Bryan Reynolds drove in the Pirates’ lone run off Buxton in the third. Pittsburgh batters struck out 14 times.
Orioles at Nationals, canceled
An exhibition game in Washington was canceled due to rain. The contest will not be rescheduled.
