Hernandez strong in Phillies’ loss
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PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Philadelphia Phillies starter Roberto Hernandez allowed one hit in three shutout innings against his former team in a 6-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.
Making his first spring-training start of the year, Matt Moore threw 37 pitches and gave up two hits in 1 2-3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts and a walk. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first by retiring John Mayberry Jr. on an inning-ending groundout, then retired his first two batters in the second.
Tampa Bay second baseman Ben Zobrist was 0 for 2 in his first game since straining a back muscle during a workout on Feb. 19. He is not scheduled to play Tuesday.
The Rays’ Jeremy Moore hit a double and homer in the late innings.
Yankees 4, Nationals 2
TAMPA, Fla. — David Robertson pitched a scoreless fourth inning Monday in his first appearance as the Yankees’ new closer.
Robertson hit his first batter, Danny Espinosa, then induced a double-play grounder by Tyler Moore to shortstop Derek Jeter, who fielded a tough-hop grounder. Robertson is replacing career saves leader Mariano Rivera, who retired after last season.
Jeter went 0 for 3, including a double-play grounder. He is hitless in seven at-bats over three spring training games.
Pirates 7, Red Sox 6
BRADENTON, Fla. — Pedro Alvarez and Russell Martin hit two-run homers off Brandon Workman, who started in place of injured Jake Peavy, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Red Sox.
Pittsburgh leadoff batter Starling Marte reached on an infield single in the first that stopped an 0-for-9 start, and Alvarez homered to right off Brandon Workman with two outs. Marte singled in the third and Martin followed with a drive to left, his second homer in two days.
Workman gave up five runs and five hits in 2 1-3 innings in place of Peavy, the right-hander who accidentally cut his left index finger with a fishing knife last weekend.
Mets 6, Braves 2
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Freddy Garcia ran his streak of perfect innings to five in his bid to earn a spot in the Braves’ rotation, Mets’ top prospect Noah Syndergaard pitched two scoreless innings in his Grapefruit League debut.
The 21-year-old Syndergaard struck out leadoff hitter Jason Heyward on a 98 mph fastball and fanned Evan Gattis on three fastballs to start the second. The right-hander allowed just one hit over two scoreless innings.
Twins (ss) 9, Orioles 2
SARASOTA, Fla. — Chris Davis hit a long home run to center field in the Baltimore Orioles’ loss to a Minnesota Twins split-squad.
Davis, the major league home run leader last year with 53, hit his first — and the Orioles’ first — of spring training in the fourth game.
