Braves Stay Hot in Spring Training with Walk-Off Win Over Phillies

Atlanta maintained their MLB-best spring training record at 15-5 with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday. Tyler Tolve delivered the game-winning home run in the ninth inning while reliever JR Ritchie dominated with four shutout innings.

Atlanta continued their dominant spring training performance on Sunday, securing a narrow 1-0 win against Philadelphia in Clearwater, Florida, to maintain the best record in Major League Baseball at 15-5.

The game remained scoreless until the ninth inning when Tyler Tolve connected for a clutch home run with one out against Genesis Cabrera (0-2), providing the decisive blow for the visiting Braves.

Relief pitcher JR Ritchie (1-1) delivered an outstanding performance on the mound, blanking the Phillies across the final four frames. The right-hander allowed zero hits while recording six strikeouts and issuing no walks, bringing his spring ERA down to 2.25 through four appearances covering 12 innings.

Brett Wisely contributed offensively for Atlanta, collecting two hits in four at-bats from the leadoff position.

Philadelphia received excellent pitching from starter Taijuan Walker, who worked five solid innings without allowing a run. Walker surrendered just three hits while walking two and striking out three batters, reducing his ERA to 1.29 across two starts and seven total innings this spring.

Tigers 12, Yankees (ss) 1

Detroit overwhelmed a New York split squad in Tampa, collecting 18 hits in a dominant offensive display. Trei Cruz, Dillon Dingler, and Javier Baez each recorded two hits for the Tigers.

Pinch-hitter Jordan Yost capped the scoring with a grand slam, while Detroit also got home runs from Spencer Torkelson (three-run), Matt Vierling (two-run), and Riley Greene (solo).

Yankees starter Luis Gil (2-1) struggled through three innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits. Jonathan Ornelas provided New York’s only run with an RBI single in the ninth.

Cardinals 6, Nationals 3

Nelson Velazquez powered St. Louis past Washington in Jupiter, Florida, belting his fourth spring home run and driving in four runs. His three-run blast in the opening inning set the tone for the Cardinals’ victory.

Velazquez is having an impressive spring, batting .333 with nine RBIs in 33 at-bats. Winning pitcher Richard Fitts (2-1) allowed two runs and one hit across 4 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out five.

Washington committed four errors in the loss but got a bright spot from Joey Wiemer, who hit a three-run homer in the second inning.

Rays 6, Pirates 1

Cedric Mullins led Tampa Bay’s offensive attack with a 3-for-4 performance, including a solo home run and four RBIs. Jake Fraley also had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Shane McClanahan (2-0) earned the victory with a dominant start, throwing 3 2/3 no-hit innings with seven strikeouts and no runs allowed.

Pittsburgh managed just four hits and scored their lone run on a ninth-inning homer by Konnor Griffin.

Red Sox 7, Twins 2

Boston collected 10 hits in their victory over Minnesota in Fort Myers, Florida. Caleb Durbin contributed two hits, while Jason Delay homered in his only plate appearance.

Durbin has been impressive this spring, batting .400 with seven RBIs and three stolen bases in 30 at-bats.

Minnesota’s Alan Roden went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while starter Zebby Matthews (0-2) pitched five innings, allowing two unearned runs on four hits.

Astros 1, Marlins 0

Houston managed just one hit in their victory over Miami in West Palm Beach, Florida, but Shay Whitcomb made it count with an eighth-inning RBI double that provided the game’s only run.

Astros starter Cristian Javier threw four shutout innings, allowing two hits with five strikeouts and one walk. AJ Blubaugh, the fifth Houston pitcher, earned his first spring decision after two hitless innings with three strikeouts.

Miami’s Eury Perez matched Javier with four hitless innings, walking one and striking out five.

Mets 8, Blue Jays 1

New York dominated Toronto in a rain-shortened six-inning game in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Mike Tauchman went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Marcus Semien homered and drove in three runs, including a solo shot in the first inning.

Toronto managed only four hits and got poor pitching from starter Grant Rogers, who surrendered eight runs (five earned) on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings, dropping to 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA this spring.