Giancarlo Stanton smashed three home runs and drove in eight runs on Wednesday as the New York Yankees dominated the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates with a 12-0 victory in Tampa.
Stanton’s remarkable achievement occurred in just four innings, with a grand slam in the second inning sandwiched between a two-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the fourth. Stanton also contributed a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
Notably, three of the four home runs allowed by Pirates starter Marco Gonzales came from Stanton, who capitalized on his opportunities. Meanwhile, the Yankees showcased strong pitching with seven pitchers combining for a four-hit shutout, led by starter Luke Weaver, who earned the win after pitching 3 1/3 innings and allowing two hits while striking out two.
In another game, the Atlanta Braves faced a late surge from the Toronto Blue Jays, blowing a three-run lead in the top of the ninth inning. However, Leury Garcia’s walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth secured a 10-9 victory for the Braves over the Blue Jays in North Port, Fla.
The Braves were on the brink of a 9-6 win before Rafael Lantigua and Arjun Nimmala’s late home runs leveled the score for the Blue Jays. Despite the late-game drama, Garcia’s clutch hit ensured the Braves emerged victorious.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers dominated the Minnesota Twins with a 12-3 win in Fort Myers, Fla. Matt Vierling and Josh Crouch led the offensive onslaught for the Tigers, driving in a combined seven runs. Tigers starter Casey Mize pitched 4 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing only two hits and striking out four to secure the win.
In another game, the New York Mets defeated the Miami Marlins 6-3 in Jupiter, Fla., with Christian Scott delivering a strong pitching performance, allowing just one run on two hits in four innings of work. Brandon Nimmo led the Mets’ offense with three RBIs, while Jonah Bride provided a solo home run for the Marlins.
Furthermore, the St. Louis Cardinals cruised to a 13-4 victory over the Washington Nationals in West Palm Beach, Fla., with Dylan Carlson’s grand slam highlighting their offensive dominance. The Cardinals provided ample run support for starter Steven Matz, who pitched four innings and allowed three runs on six hits.
On the other hand, the Orioles secured a convincing 13-4 win over the Phillies in Sarasota, Fla., with Anthony Santander, Ryan O’Hearn, and Gunnar Henderson homering against Phillies starter Taijuan Walker. The Athletics also emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over the Cubs in Mesa, Ariz., as Paul Blackburn’s impressive pitching performance propelled Oakland to victory.
Additionally, the Texas Rangers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 8-1 in Goodyear, Ariz., with Dane Dunning’s stellar pitching and Marcus Semien’s grand slam leading the way for the Rangers.
Lastly, the Cincinnati Reds split squad edged the Chicago White Sox 3-1 in Glendale, Ariz., with Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Luke Maile’s late home runs securing the win for the Reds. Overall, it was an eventful day of spring training games with standout performances and exciting matchups across the board.