Spring training roundup: Braves lose lead in ninth, still edge Jays

BRAVES

The host Atlanta Braves blew a three-run lead in the top of the ninth, but Leury Garcia came to the rescue with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the frame for a 10-9 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday in North Port, Fla. 

Atlanta needed just three more outs to wrap up a 9-6 win, but Rafael Lantigua smacked a two-run homer and Arjun Nimmala followed with a solo shot to draw Toronto even. 

Wes Parsons (0-1) got the first two outs of the bottom of the ninth before Garcia delivered his game-winning hit. 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daniel Vogelbach homered as the Blue Jays raced out to a 4-0 lead. The Braves scored six unanswered runs — four in the fifth, two in the sixth — to take control. 

Atlanta reliever Brian Moran (1-0) surrendered Nimmala’s homer but proceeded to strike out Tanner Morris, allowing him to come away with the win. 

Tigers 12, Twins 3 

Matt Vierling drove in four runs and Josh Crouch drove in three as visiting Detroit rocked Minnesota in Fort Myers, Fla. 

The Tigers got to Twins starter Louie Varland (1-1) for eight runs and nine hits in four innings. Detroit was up 9-0 before Ryan Jeffers got Minnesota on the board with a solo home run in the seventh. 

Casey Mize (3-1) went 4 2/3 innings, giving up two hits without allowing a run for the Tigers. He walked two and struck out four. 

Mets 6, Marlins 3 

Christian Scott surrendered one run on two hits across four strong innings to help New York double up host Miami in Jupiter, Fla. 

Scott (1-0) didn’t issue a walk and fanned seven. Brandon Nimmo went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk for the Mets. 

Jonah Bride ripped a solo shot for the Marlins. Starter Patrick Monteverde (0-1) yielded two runs on three hits in 3 1/3 innings. 

Athletics 3, Cubs 1 

Paul Blackburn carried a no-hitter through six innings, lifting Oakland over visiting Chicago in Mesa, Ariz. 

Blackburn (3-0) was removed before the start of the seventh after pairing one walk with three strikeouts. All of the Athletics’ runs came via the long ball — Nick Allen’s solo home run and Brent Rooker’s two-run blast.

Ezequiel Pagan homered for the Cubs’ lone run. Eight pitchers logged an inning apiece for Chicago, with Hector Neris (0-1) surrendering all three Oakland runs. 

Rangers 8, Reds 1 

Dane Dunning racked up eight strikeouts across five innings and Texas blew by host Cincinnati in Goodyear, Ariz. 

Dunning (2-1) only allowed three hits and one unearned run. He walked one. Marcus Semien cranked a grand slam and Wyatt Langford added a solo shot as part of a six-run second for the Rangers. 

A double steal resulted in the Reds’ only run. Rhett Lowder (0-1) only got through 1 1/3 innings, giving up five runs and four hits. 

Reds 3 (ss), White Sox 1 

Christian Encarnacion-Strand blasted a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh as visiting Cincinnati’s split squad edged Chicago in Glendale, Ariz. 

One out after Encarnacion-Strand left the yard, Luke Maile went deep for the Reds. Tyler Gilbert (1-1) provided three innings of shutout relief to grab the win. 

Cincinnati’s late rally spoiled a solid start from Michael Soroka, who allowed one unearned run, one hit and one walk in four frames. He struck out five. Andrew Vaughn had a run-scoring double for the White Sox. 

Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 1 

Tommy Henry provided 3 1/3 innings of no-hit ball, setting the tone for host Arizona in a win over Colorado in Scottsdale, Ariz. 

Henry (1-3) walked one and fanned three before Joe Mantiply and Scott McGough combined for 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Bryce Jarvis then went three innings, letting the Rockies plate a run on a groundout. 

Christian Walker and Eugenio Suarez homered for the Diamondbacks. 

Giants 5, Angels 2

Visiting San Francisco rattled off five unanswered runs on the way to a victory over Los Angeles in Tempe, Ariz. 

The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the first when Anthony Rendon scored on Taylor Ward’s double-play grounder, but it was all Giants from there. Marco Luciano had a two-RBI single to cap the scoring for San Francisco.

Both starters struck out six over 4 2/3 innings and were strong in recording no-decisions. The Giants’ Jordan Hicks gave up one run on three hits, while Tyler Anderson allowed one run and five hits.

–Field Level Media