Top St. Louis prospect JJ Wetherholt smashed a game-winning home run to lead the Cardinals to a 7-2 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles Monday in spring-training action in Jupiter, Fla.
Wetherholt, who is the No. 5 overall prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, hit his second spring homer to break a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning. He’s hitting .278 as he pushes to make the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster.
The Cardinals tacked on three more runs in the seventh on homers from No. 4 organizational prospect Joshua Baez and Chase Davis. Matt Svanson recorded the win with a scoreless frame after Matthew Liberatore struck out seven and allowed two runs over five innings of work.
Sam Huff homered and Jhonkensy Noel had an RBI single for the Orioles, who saw Nestor German take the loss after he allowed five runs over three innings of relief work.
Braves 9, Twins 8
Atlanta plated eight runs in the first inning before holding on for dear life, escaping with a victory over Minnesota in North Port, Fla.
Mauricio Dubon had two hits and three RBIs, Austin Riley was 3-for-3 with a run and Michael Harris II and reigning NL Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin each knocked in a pair for the Braves. Carlos Carrasco earned the win despite allowing four runs over 2 2/3 innings.
Royce Lewis and Josh Bell sparked the comeback bid with two of the Twins’ five home runs. Luke Keaschall was 2-for-2 with a triple and a double. Starter Zebby Matthews was roughed up in the loss, allowing six runs over 3 2/3 innings.
Tigers 4, Rays 4
Kevin McGonigle’s seventh-inning home run helped Detroit salvage a tie against Tampa Bay in Lakeland, Fla.
Will Simpson delivered a go-ahead two-run homer for the Rays, boosting his spring average to .455 with a 3-for-4 showing. John Peck also homered for the Tigers and Riley Greene (2-for-3) opened the scoring with an RBI single.
Framber Valdez was strong on the mound for Detroit, striking out six while surrendering one earned run over four innings. Rays starter Shane McClanahan struggled a bit more, giving up three runs on three hits over 2 1/3 innings.
Red Sox 5, Phillies 3
Nick Sogard’s three-run homer proved to be the difference in Boston’s come-from-behind win over Philadelphia in Fort Myers, Fla.
Trevor Story, Braiden Ward and Allan Castro each tacked on two of the Red Sox’s 11 hits, with Ward adding an RBI and his 14th stolen base of spring. Boston won despite a suboptimal start from Garrett Crochet, who allowed two second-inning runs but battled through to allow three in total over 4 2/3 innings.
Jose Rodriguez provided the Phillies’ only RBI of the day on an RBI single, one of six hits by the team, all of which were singles. Bryan Rincon scored the team’s final run on a steal of home. Bryse Wilson was the losing pitcher, allowing four runs on six hits over three innings.
Astros 10, Cardinals (ss) 3
Joey Loperfido knocked in three runs, aiding Houston’s defeat of St. Louis in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Loperfido homered and added an RBI single, and Taylor Trammell contributed a two-run triple for the Astros, who saw their pitching staff strike out 13 but walk seven with Peter Lambert earning a three-inning relief win.
Nelson Velazquez had two of the Cardinals’ five hits, including an RBI single in the seventh. They stranded 11 runners, setting the stage for Richard Fitts’ loss after he gave up four runs on six hits over 2 2/3 innings in his start.
