Konnor Griffin, the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, homered once again Sunday to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-1 spring-training victory over the host St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Fla.
Griffin, who turns 20 on April 24, is making a strong case to be the Pirates’ Opening Day shortstop. His first-inning two-run homer was his third in six games and 14 at-bats this spring, accounting for all three of his hits.
Jhostynxon Garcia also homered for Pittsburgh, which opened a 4-0 lead in the second inning. Pirates pitcher Hunter Barco, also a top-100 overall prospect, threw three no-hit innings with two walks and three strikeouts in his start.
Yohel Pozo had the lone hit for the Cardinals, who scored their only run on a double play and had just two at-bats with a runner in scoring position.
Tigers 4, Blue Jays 4
Visiting Toronto roughed up two-time defending Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal in an eventual tie in Lakeland, Fla.
Skubal, who coasted through his spring debut, was tagged for two runs on four hits over three innings. Detroit got nine hits from nine different batters, with Riley Greene providing the only extra-base hit, an RBI double.
Jonatan Clase delivered a game-high three hits for the Blue Jays, including a third-inning two-run double off Skubal. Grant Rogers delivered three perfect innings on the hill for Toronto.
Mets 4, Astros 3
Tyrone Taylor and Chris Suero homered and Cristian Pache had a double to lead host New York past Houston in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The Mets managed just six hits but three of them were of the extra-base variety in a largely prospect-led lineup. Clay Holmes struck out four over four frames of one-run work in his second spring start.
Jose Altuve and Joey Loperfido each had a hit for the Astros, who plated their runs on a sacrifice fly, a walk and a wild pitch before Yonatan Henriquez lifted New York with a walk-off single.
Yankees 5, Phillies 3
Duke Ellis tripled and Yanquiel Fernandez doubled in a four-run seventh, which broke a 1-1 deadlock and paved the path to New York’s win over host Philadelphia in Clearwater, Fla.
Will Warren set the tone for the Yankees, delivering 3 2/3 one-hit innings on the mound with three strikeouts. He’s allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings (1.42 ERA) through two starts as he looks to build upon his first full major league season last year.
Bryson Stott hit his second spring homer for the Phillies, but the top three of the lineup (Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto and Alec Bohm) were a combined 0-for-9 with three Ks. Zach Pop took the loss, allowing four runs in 2/3 of an inning of relief work.
Braves (ss) 5, Rays 3
Austin Riley and Ben Gamel’s home runs in consecutive innings proved to be the difference as Atlanta’s split squad beat visiting Tampa Bay in North Port, Fla.
Gamel, a journeyman pushing for a roster spot with the Braves, has three home runs in 11 at-bats this spring, while Riley has homered twice. Michael Harris II added a two-run single for Atlanta, which got three runs of one-hit shutout work from Reynaldo Lopez.
Yandy Diaz and Jacob Melton each hit their second spring homers for the Rays, who got three perfect innings for Drew Rasmussen. He’s allowed just one hit in five shutout innings to start spring.
Braves (ss) 2, Twins 2
Brewer Hicklin and John Gil homered for the prospect-laden Atlanta road squad to force a tie against Minnesota in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Twins got an excellent start from Mick Abel (six strikeouts, one hit over three scoreless innings) after acquiring him from Philadelphia in the Jhoan Duran trade at last year’s trade deadline. Minnesota scored its runs on sixth-inning sac flies by Kody Clemens and James Outman.
Atlanta starter Grant Holmes allowed one unearned run over 2 2/3 innings, striking out two.
Orioles 8, Red Sox 7
Heston Kjerstad had three hits and top prospect Samuel Basallo cranked a two-run double to lead Baltimore to a narrow win over host Boston in Fort Myers, Fla.
No. 4 prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. had a single, a walk and a pair of runs for the Orioles, who saw offseason acquisition Chris Bassitt surrender two runs in two innings in his spring debut.
Key Red Sox acquisition Willson Contreras smashed his second spring homer, a three-run shot, as part of his two-hit, two-run showing in the designated hitter role. Allan Castro added a two-run single for Boston, which blew an early 6-1 lead.
Marlins 3, Nationals 0
Miami used a trio of extra-base hits to pull away with a shutout victory over Washington in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Christopher Morel had an RBI triple, Daniel Johnson an RBI double and Heriberto Hernandez his first spring homer for the Marlins. Offseason signee Chris Paddack sparked a stellar combined pitching performance with three strikeouts over two shutout innings.
Washington managed just four hits, all singles, and was hitless in four at-bats with runners in scoring position. Brad Lord, who made his major league debut last season, allowed two runs on five hits over 2 1/3 innings.
White Sox 5, Cubs 1
Edgar Quero, Braden Montgomery, Austin Hays and Lenyn Sosa went yard for the visiting White Sox in a win over the rival Cubs in Mesa, Ariz.
It was the second homer of the spring for Hays and the first for everyone else. Sosa added a double and Montgomery a triple in the visitors’ 11-hit attack. White Sox starter Anthony Kay allowed one run over 2 2/3 innings, fanning two.
Prized acquisition Alex Bregman hit his first home run of the spring and added a double for the Cubs. Shota Imanaga took the loss as he allowed the first three homers before being replaced in the third inning.
Guardians (ss) 8, Rockies 3
Chase DeLauter went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer and Milan Tolentino added a three-run shot as Cleveland’s split squad beat host Colorado in Goodyear, Ariz.
Gavin Williams went three innings as the Guardians’ starter and fanned three while scattering one run and two hits. Seven of Cleveland’s 10 hits went for extra bases, including Kahlil Watson’s RBI double.
Brett Sullivan led off the game with a home run and Troy Johnston hit a two-run single for the Rockies.
Diamondbacks 9, Guardians (ss) 6
Ryan Waldschmidt went 3-for-3 with a two-run double and Pavin Smith had a triple, a double and an RBI as host Arizona beat Cleveland in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The Diamondbacks’ red-hot offense helped them climb out of 3-0 and 6-2 holes. Waldschmidt’s double in the fifth began the final rally, as Smith and Tim Tawa added RBI doubles to tie the game and Ildemaro Vargas and Gabriel Moreno hit back-to-back singles to plate a combined three runs in the sixth.
The D-backs out-hit the Guardians 15-10 without hitting a home run. Dom Nunez and Angel Martinez left the park for the Guardians.
Royals 3, Brewers 1
Carter Jensen hit the tiebreaking solo shot in the fourth inning and Jonathan India added an RBI hit as Kansas City edged visiting Milwaukee in Surprise, Ariz.
Kris Bubic gave up a first-inning run, but the Royals starter was joined by Michael Wacha, Matt Strahm, Mitch Spence and Luinder Avila in striking out 12 and scattering one walk and eight hits.
Akil Baddoo singled in the Brewers’ lone run, as neither side had a player with more than one hit.
Dodgers 4, Angels 3
James Tibbs III tied the game with a solo home run in the sixth and Kyle Nevin drove in the go-ahead run an inning later as the host Dodgers edged the Angels in Glendale, Ariz.
Dodgers starter Landon Knack only lasted two outs as he gave up back-to-back jacks from Vaughn Grissom and Logan O’Hoppe for a 3-0 Angels lead. Eight Dodgers relievers ensured the Angels would not score again, as the bullpen scattered three hits while striking out eight.
Reid Detmers worked three innings in the start for the Angels and yielded two runs on five hits and two walks.
Giants 9, Padres 1
Casey Schmitt went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI while Christian Koss had a two-run single as San Francisco breezed past visiting San Diego in Scottsdale.
Eleven of the Giants’ 14 hits were singles, with Osleivis Basabe contributing an RBI double on a 2-for-2 day at the plate. Logan Webb tossed three innings of one-run ball, with three strikeouts.
Ty France singled home San Diego’s only run for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Padres managed just five hits in all.
Athletics 12, Reds 4
Joey Meneses hit a grand slam, three of his teammates also homered and the host A’s beat Cincinnati in Mesa, Ariz.
Shea Langeliers had a home run, a double, three RBIs and two runs while Austin Wynns (three-run shot) and Tommy White (solo) also hit blasts. Athletics starter J.T. Ginn worked three innings and gave up just one hit, walked two and fanned two.
Nathaniel Lowe hit a three-run homer in the sixth and Dane Myers followed in the next inning with a solo shot to account for the Reds’ runs.
Rangers 9, Mariners 4
Texas prospect Cameron Cauley went 2-for-3 with two runs and his first spring homer in a win over host Seattle in Peoria, Ariz.
Michael Helman also left the park and Aaron Zavala went 3-for-3 with an RBI triple for the Rangers, who had 14 hits. Jacob Latz and four relievers held the Mariners to six hits.
Cole Young gave the Mariners a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a 442-foot homer. The Rangers had the next nine runs in a row before Spencer Packard singled home two Mariners runs in the eighth.
–Field Level Media
