Keston Hiura hit a grand slam and Buddy Kennedy followed with a solo blast to highlight a seven-run sixth inning as the Detroit Tigers survived a big day from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to beat the host Toronto Blue Jays 9-6 on Friday in Dunedin, Fla.
Guerrero went 2-for-3, including a two-run homer in the fifth, and drove in four runs to improve his average to .417 this spring. George Springer also homered in the fifth to help the Blue Jays take a 6-2 lead but that wouldn’t last.
The Tigers answered with seven hits in the sixth, including back-to-back blasts off Mason Fluharty (0-1), to take the lead.
Mason Englert (1-0) earned the win despite giving up five hits and four runs in two innings. Drew Anderson struck out five in two scoreless innings to pick up the save.
Tigers 6, Braves 1
Starter Matt Manning (1-0) allowed one hit in four shutout innings, striking out four, as host Detroit kept Atlanta in check in Lakeland, Fla.
Gio Urshela, Riley Greene, Justyn-Henry Malloy and Ryan Kreidler each had two hits, but the Tigers went just 3-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
Braves starter AJ Smith-Shawver (0-1) gave up five runs and eight hits in three innings. Michael Harris II went 2-for-3 and is hitting .375 this spring.
Rays 7, Orioles 2
Starter Naoyuki Uwasawa allowed one run on four hits in four innings to lower his spring ERA to 13.03 as Tampa Bay topped visiting Baltimore in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Jacob Waguespack (1-0) walked two and gave up one run and no hits in 3 2/3 innings as the Rays’ bullpen threw five hitless innings
Orioles starter Dean Kremer gave up two hits and one run in 4 1/3 innings, striking out three. Albert Suarez (1-1) took the loss after allowing six hits and five runs in 2 1/3 innings.
White Sox 3, Cubs 2 (eight innings)
Starter Chris Flexen (2-0) gave up two runs and five hits in four innings, lowering his spring ERA to 2.00, as the host Chicago White Sox edged the Chicago Cubs in Phoenix. The game was shortened to eight innings due to rain.
The White Sox bullpen allowed two hits and no runs in four innings. Tanner Banks struck out three in two innings to earn the save.
Cubs starter Jordan Wicks (2-1) allowed three runs and four hits in five innings.
Guardians 6, Royals 1
Starter Tyler Beede threw five shutout innings, striking out three and giving up three hits, to help visiting Cleveland beat Kansas City in Surprise, Ariz.
Guardians right-hander Scott Barlow (2-0) struck out two in one shutout inning to earn the win.
Royals starter Brady Singer threw four shutout innings, striking out four. Nick Anderson (1-1) gave up four runs and four hits in one inning.
Marlins 8, Cardinals 4
Miami finished with 15 hits and went 6-for-14 with runners in scoring position to double up host St. Louis in Jupiter, Fla.
Vidal Brujan, Josh Bell, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Avisail Garcia and Jon Berti each had two hits for the Marlins, with Berti hitting a three-run homer. Yonny Chirinos threw two shutout innings to earn his second save and lower his spring ERA to 1.29.
Drew Rom (1-1) gave up nine hits and four runs in 2 1/3 innings for the Cardinals.
Red Sox 8, Twins 5
Jarren Duran went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and Rafel Devers added two hits, including a homer, to power host Boston past Minnesota in Fort Myers, Fla.
Red Sox starter Garrett Whitlock struck out five and gave up two hits in 4 1/3 shutout innings. Felix Cepeda (1-0) earned the win despite giving up two runs and three hits in one-third of an inning. Lucas Luetge threw one shutout inning for his second spring save.