Spring training roundup: Wainwright sharp in '19 debut

Right-hander Adam Wainwright pitched two perfect innings in his first start of the spring as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the host Washington Nationals 6-1 on Tuesday at West Palm Beach, Fla.

Feb 26, 2019; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (50) delivers a pitch against the Washington Nationals at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The 37-year-old Wainwright was limited to just eight starts last season due to elbow troubles. He is trying to regain the form that saw him win 19 or more games four times during 13 big league seasons.

“The difference today was that I was focused on command and trusting my stuff, and last year I was focused on surviving,” Wainwright told reporters. “Making a pitch and trying to make it to the next pitch. My focus today was on pitching instead of on health.”

Marlins 3, Astros 0

Right-hander Dan Straily struck out three in two perfect innings as Miami blanked visiting Houston at Jupiter, Fla. Houston right-hander Gerrit Cole pitched a perfect inning in his spring debut.

Tigers 14, Mets (ss) 4

Harold Castro and Pete Kozma each clubbed three-run homers as visiting Detroit routed New York at Port Fort Lucie, Fla. Rajai Davis went deep for the Mets.

Rays (ss) 11, Orioles 5 (8 innings)

Jesus Sanchez hit a go-ahead, three-run homer during a 10-run eighth-inning splurge as Tampa Bay rallied to knocked off host Baltimore at Sarasota, Fla. Chris Davis smacked a two-run blast for the Orioles in a game that was stopped due to rain.

Braves 4, Mets (ss) 3

William Contreras hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning as Atlanta defeated visiting New York at Kissimmee, Fla. Sebastian Espino hit an inside-the-park homer for the Mets.

Twins 6, Pirates 5

Ryan Jeffers delivered the go-ahead pinch-hit, two-run single during a four-run fifth-inning uprising as visiting Pittsburgh edged Minnesota at Fort Myers, Fla. Patrick Kivlehan homered for the Twins.

Angels 17, Athletics 5

Jose Rosas hit a three-run homer and Peter Bourjos had a solo shot as Los Angeles routed Oakland at Mesa, Ariz. The Angels’ Roberto Baldoquin also knocked in three runs. Oakland reliever Fernando Rodney gave up four runs on four hits, two walks and a wild pitch in one-third of an inning.

White Sox 9, Royals (ss) 7

Tim Anderson drove in runs with a triple and a single, and Yonder Alonso added a two-run homer as Chicago beat Kansas City at Phoenix. MJ Melendez, Hunter Dozier and Taylor Jones hit two-run shots for the Royals, and Jecksson Flores added a solo homer.

Padres 3, Brewers 1

Fernando Tatis Jr. belted a two-run homer and Austin Hedges added a solo shot as San Diego defeated Milwaukee at Phoenix. Zach Davies threw two hitless, scoreless innings for the Brewers.

Giants 4, Reds 3

Jose Lopez struck out three in two scoreless innings, and San Francisco beat Cincinnati at Goodyear, Ariz. Jesus Reyes tossed two shutout innings for the Reds.

Diamondbacks 5, Cubs 4

Wilmer Flores hit a three-run double to lead Arizona to a win over Chicago at Mesa, Ariz. Chicago’s Yu Darvish walked four in 1 1/3 hitless innings, and he was charged with two runs (one earned).

Royals (ss) 8, Dodgers 2

Kansas City exploded for seven runs in the eighth inning, two on a single by Humberto Arteaga, in a victory over Los Angeles at Surprise, Ariz. The Dodgers’ Shane Peterson homered.

Indians 5, Rockies 3

Carlos Santana homered and knocked in three runs as Cleveland topped Colorado at Scottsdale, Ariz. The Rockies’ Brian Mundell hit a two-run double.

Rangers 4, Mariners 4

Jake Fraley and Chris Mariscal hit ninth-inning home runs to lift Seattle into a tie with Texas at Peoria, Ariz. The Mariners’ Marco Gonzales struck out five in three scoreless innings.

Phillies-Yankees, canceled

New York right-hander Masahiro Tanaka’s spring debut was washed out by rain as the host Yankees and Philadelphia were unable to play at Tampa, Fla.

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Red Sox-Blue Jays, canceled

Right-hander Matt Shoemaker was slated to make his first Toronto appearance before rain prevented the contest between the Blue Jays and visiting Boston at Dunedin, Fla.

—Field Level Media

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source: reuters.com