Alonso Powers Orioles Past Yankees in Spring Training Debut

New Baltimore slugger Pete Alonso made an immediate impact in his first game as an Oriole, launching a two-run homer that provided all the offense in a 2-0 victory over the Yankees. The former Mets star, who signed a five-year, $155 million deal with Baltimore, connected on his third at-bat to open spring training in Florida.

New Baltimore Orioles slugger Pete Alonso wasted no time making his mark, delivering a crucial two-run home run in his debut appearance that lifted the O’s to a 2-0 victory over the New York Yankees in Friday’s spring training opener in Sarasota, Florida.

The newly-signed free agent provided all the offense Baltimore needed when he launched a first-pitch curveball from Yankees right-hander Bradley Hanner (0-1) over the left field wall in the sixth inning. Jeremiah Jackson had reached base on a single before Alonso’s blast gave the Orioles their margin of victory.

Alonso, a five-time All-Star first baseman who earned National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2019, brings considerable power to Baltimore after inking a five-year, $155 million deal. The slugger spent his entire seven-year major league tenure with the New York Mets, where he established a franchise record with 264 home runs before making the move to the American League.

Baltimore’s pitching staff delivered strong performances throughout the contest. Right-hander Jose Espada (1-0) earned the victory with a flawless sixth inning that included two strikeouts, while Trey Gibson secured the save by tossing three shutout frames, allowing just two hits while striking out three batters.

The Yankees managed only three hits and two walks while their hitters went down on strikes 13 times in the defeat.

Diamondbacks 3, Rockies 2

Third baseman Nolan Arenado connected against one of his former clubs in his initial at-bat, helping Arizona capture a narrow victory over host Colorado in their Cactus League season opener in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The eight-time All-Star third baseman drove a slider from Colorado right-hander Antonio Senzatela over the left-center field fence on the fourth pitch of his at-bat in the second inning. Arenado joined the Diamondbacks through a January 13 trade from St. Louis, where he spent five seasons after beginning his career in Colorado from 2013-20.

Arizona utilized eight different pitchers, with right-hander Taylor Rashi (1-0) earning the win after a perfect seventh inning. Jose Cabrera collected the save by working two hitless, scoreless innings despite issuing two walks and recording one strikeout. Colorado reliever Patrick Weigel (0-1) surrendered two runs on three hits with one strikeout in one inning of work.

Royals 7, Rangers 3

Salvador Perez and Michael Massey each contributed 2-for-3 performances with home runs and two RBIs apiece as Kansas City defeated host Texas in both teams’ spring training opener in Surprise, Arizona.

Right-hander Stephen Kolek captured the victory for the Royals, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out two over two innings. Kansas City used eight pitchers who combined to give up seven hits, three runs and four walks with seven strikeouts. Perez added one of four doubles for the Royals, while Bobby Witt Jr. contributed a triple.

Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi absorbed the loss after surrendering three hits including both home runs and three runs with two strikeouts in two innings. Seven Rangers pitchers combined to allow seven runs on nine hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.

White Sox 8, Cubs 1

Designated hitter Korey Lee collected three hits in four at-bats as Chicago’s White Sox accumulated 12 hits in a dominant victory over the host Cubs in their spring training opener in Mesa, Arizona.

Austin Hays launched a two-out, 428-foot solo home run in the first inning, while teammate Sam Antonacci added a 417-foot two-run blast in the second. Munetaka Murakami drove in two runs with a double in the fourth inning.

White Sox right-hander Jonathan Cannon (1-0) started and allowed two hits including Seiya Suzuki’s solo homer in the first inning, one run and one walk with three strikeouts in 1⅔ innings. Cubs starter Jameson Taillon (0-1) gave up four hits including two home runs, four runs and one walk while striking out one in 1⅔ innings.

Mariners 7, Padres 4

Michael Arroyo and Leo Rivas homered as part of Seattle’s 13-hit offensive display in a victory over San Diego in Peoria, Arizona.

Arroyo also doubled and joined Luke Raley with two hits for the Mariners, who maintained the lead throughout. Seattle used nine pitchers, with right-hander Jason Ruffcorn earning the win despite working just one-third of an inning with the game tied 3-3 in the seventh.

Jose Miranda homered and doubled while Romeo Sanabria also went deep for the Padres, who finished with eight hits. San Diego left-hander Jackson Wolf (0-1), the fifth of seven Padres pitchers, allowed two runs on three hits and one walk with one strikeout over 1⅔ innings.