BASEBALL: Spring training roundup - Pirates prospect Konnor Griffin homers twice

The No. 1 baseball prospect, shortstop Konnor Griffin, launched two home runs over the replica Green Monster at the Boston Red Sox spring training facility to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 16-7 victory on Tuesday.

Griffin’s first two homers of the spring were part of a 21-hit offensive explosion. He opened with a 374-foot shot in the second inning and added a 440-foot blast in the fourth, later driving in a fourth run on a fifth-inning groundout. Contributions from Nick Gonzales (3-for-3, two RBIs), Nick Yorke (3-for-4), Jake Mangum (2-for-3, two RBIs), and Yordany De Los Santos (homer, three RBIs) fueled Pittsburgh’s dominance. For Boston, Ceddanne Rafaela and Willson Contreras homered, but the Red Sox cycled through 10 pitchers in the loss.

Yankees 8, Blue Jays 7 – Paul Goldschmidt homered, doubled, and drove in four runs, while prospect Jace Avina hit the game-winning solo homer as New York edged host Toronto in Dunedin, Fla. The Yankees built a 7-1 lead by the fifth inning behind regulars Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. Toronto rallied to 7-5, but Avina’s eighth-inning homer proved decisive.

Braves 8, Tigers 1 – Matt Olson hit a two-run homer and Ozzie Albies added a two-run double as host Atlanta dominated Detroit in North Port, Fla. The Braves’ bullpen struck out 11 while giving up just three hits.

Orioles 10, Twins 5 – Jeremiah Jackson sparked a six-run first inning with an RBI single to set the tone for visiting Baltimore in Fort Myers. Leody Taveras went 3-for-4 with two RBIs as the Orioles totaled 10 runs and 14 hits. Kala’i Rosario hit a two-run homer in the ninth for the Twins.

Rays 12, Twins 1 – Junior Caminero drove in Tampa Bay’s first three runs, and Jake Fraley cleared the bases to help the Rays dominate Minnesota in Port Charlotte, Fla. Yandy Diaz and Hunter Feduccia also homered.

Marlins 6, Phillies 1 – Joe Mack hit a fifth-inning grand slam to lift host Miami past Philadelphia in Jupiter, Fla. The Marlins’ nine pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts and four hits.

Astros 6, Mets 6 – Kellen Strahm and Lucas Spence delivered key RBIs to help Houston rally from a 5-0 deficit against New York in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Carlos Perez, Taylor Trammell, and Nick Allen had multi-hit games.

Brewers 10, Athletics 0 – Tyler Black drove in six runs to lead Milwaukee to a shutout in Mesa, Ariz. David Hamilton, Cooper Pratt, and Jordyn Adams also contributed.

Cubs 6, Padres 5 – Carson Kelly and B.J. Murray Jr. powered Chicago past visiting San Diego in Mesa with timely hits, including a solo homer and a two-run double.

Reds 5, Royals 4 – Michael Toglia’s walk-off single capped Cincinnati’s comeback over Kansas City in Goodyear, Ariz. Edwin Arroyo, Elly De La Cruz, and Eugenio Suarez contributed homers.

Dodgers 11, Guardians 3 – Freddie Freeman’s go-ahead double fueled a five-run third inning, helping Los Angeles beat Cleveland in Phoenix. Eight Dodgers recorded RBIs in the win.

Diamondbacks 6, Rangers 4 – A.J. Vukovich homered and scored twice while Ben McLaughlin added two RBIs in Arizona’s win over Texas in Surprise.

Rockies 7, Angels 5 – Charlie Condon’s eighth-inning solo homer gave Colorado a cushion in a win over a Los Angeles split squad in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Giants 4, Angels 1 – Jung Hoo Lee drove in a run as eight San Francisco pitchers combined to limit Los Angeles to three hits in Tempe, Ariz.

White Sox 12, Mariners 10 – Mario Camilletti’s late-game RBI singles helped Chicago outslug Seattle in Peoria, Ariz. Brooks Baldwin and Tanner Murray also had key contributions.

Nationals 6, Cardinals 1 – Cristhian Vaquero’s two-run single capped a five-run eighth inning, lifting Washington past St. Louis in West Palm Beach, Fla -Field Level Media/Reuters