Mets Power Past Cardinals 6-1 as Polanco, Alvarez Launch First Spring Homers

Jorge Polanco and Francisco Alvarez hit their first home runs of spring training to lead the New York Mets to a commanding 6-1 win over St. Louis. The Mets collected 14 hits in the victory at Port St. Lucie, Florida on Tuesday.

The New York Mets dominated the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 on Tuesday in Port St. Lucie, Florida, powered by the first spring training home runs from Jorge Polanco and Francisco Alvarez.

Alvarez delivered an impressive performance, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Polanco went 2-for-2 at the plate. Brett Baty also contributed significantly with a 2-for-3 showing and two RBIs as the Mets collected 14 hits total. Starting pitcher David Peterson dominated through four innings, giving up only two hits and one run while striking out three batters.

The Cardinals’ lone run came courtesy of Nelson Velazquez’s solo home run in the opening frame. Victor Scott II managed a double as St. Louis was limited to just three hits overall. Cardinals starter Jared Shuster struggled, giving up seven hits including both New York long balls and four runs in the losing effort.

Tigers 7, Red Sox 2

Riley Greene launched a two-run blast off Sonny Gray in the second frame to propel Detroit over Boston in Fort Myers, Florida.

Wenceel Perez recorded two hits in three at-bats while Corey Julks made a significant impact off the bench, driving in three runs with a two-run homer and sacrifice fly for Detroit. Tigers starter Tyler Madden was effective over 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits despite issuing three walks.

Gray struck out four batters in his four-inning outing but surrendered three hits, two runs and one walk for Boston, which managed only four singles. Rookie outfielder Braiden Ward swiped two more bases, bringing his spring total to an impressive 16 steals in just 35 plate appearances.

Astros 7, Orioles 6

Tyler Whitaker delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth inning, scoring Collin Price to give Houston a dramatic victory over Baltimore in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Baltimore’s Coby Mayo continued his torrid spring, going 4-for-4 with five RBIs to push his average to .500. Mayo’s performance included a two-run homer off Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. in the second inning, and he also stole a base. Orioles starter Levi Wells pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits.

McCullers struck out four in three innings while giving up three hits, two runs and one walk. Cam Smith went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for Houston, while Jack Winkler delivered a bases-clearing double in the sixth to give the Astros a 5-4 advantage.

Yankees 4, Phillies 2

Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones each connected for solo homers to power New York past Philadelphia in Clearwater, Florida.

Dominguez hit his second spring homer in the first inning off Tanner Banks, followed by Jones’ fourth of the spring in the second against Jonathan Bowlan. Yankees starter Luis Gil was effective over 3 1/3 innings, striking out four while allowing four hits and two runs, with only one earned.

J.T. Realmuto paced Philadelphia with a 2-for-3 performance that included his first homer of the spring. Bryan De La Cruz also went 2-for-3 and drove in the other Phillies run. Lou Trivino (0-1), the sixth of seven Philadelphia pitchers, took the loss after surrendering two runs and two hits in the sixth inning.

Twins 6, Rays 5

David Banuelos’ three-run double was the highlight of a six-run eighth inning that lifted Minnesota over Tampa Bay in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Matt Wallner ignited the comeback with his first spring homer as the Twins recorded five of their six hits in the decisive eighth frame. Starter Joe Ryan was outstanding through three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks.

Tampa Bay starter Steven Matz threw four shutout innings with three strikeouts, one hit and one walk. Kenneth Piper collected two doubles and drove in two runs while Ray Delgado contributed a two-run single for the Rays.

Blue Jays 7, Braves 0

Dylan Cease teamed with six relievers to throw a six-hit shutout as Toronto blanked Atlanta in Dunedin, Florida.

Cease recorded three strikeouts over three innings while surrendering two singles. Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Rogers and Louis Varland were among six major league regulars who each tossed a scoreless inning. Riley Tirotta connected for a solo homer while Brandon Valenzuela capped the scoring with a three-run blast in the seventh.

Jose Azocar provided Atlanta’s only extra-base hit with a fourth-inning triple. Prospect JR Ritchie limited opponents to one hit during his four-inning appearance, though he walked four and allowed two runs.

Nationals 7, Marlins 5

Daylen Lile and Brady House connected for consecutive homers in the second inning to fuel Washington’s victory over Miami in Jupiter, Florida.

Johnathon Thomas added a solo blast leading off the eighth to break a 3-3 deadlock and give the Nationals the lead permanently. Starter Foster Griffin struck out four over three innings while surrendering three hits and one run.

Miami starter Eury Perez fanned seven and walked two in his three-inning outing, with the Lile and House homers being the only hits and runs he allowed. Ethan O’Donnell contributed a two-run homer in the eighth while Jesus Bastidas added two hits and one of Miami’s four stolen bases.