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.
