BASEBALL: Spring training roundup - Tatsuya Imai, Astros shut down Marlins

Tatsuya Imai threw three perfect innings, Jose Altuve hit his first home run of spring training, and the Houston Astros defeated the host Miami Marlins 4-1 on Wednesday in Jupiter, Fla.

Imai, the Japanese ace who signed a three-year, $54 million contract with the Astros this winter, struck out four and needed just 35 pitches (24 strikes) to breeze through Miami's lineup. Isaac Paredes broke a 0-0 stalemate with a solo homer in the fourth inning before Zach Cole and Altuve went back-to-back in the sixth.

Heriberto Hernandez hit his third homer of the spring for the Marlins' lone run. Starter Max Meyer fanned six batters in three innings before Janson Junk gave up the first home run and Bradley Blalock allowed the next two.

Braves 5, Rays 3

Matt Olson's first-inning homer was his third longball of the spring, and Brett Wisely added a home run as Atlanta beat visiting Tampa Bay in North Port, Fla. Olson finished 2-for-3, and Austin Riley added an RBI double for the Braves. Spencer Strider struck out five in four innings for his second spring training win.

Ben Williamson drove in all three Rays runs with a 425-foot shot in the sixth inning. He went 2-for-3, but Tampa Bay batted just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Orioles 7, Pirates 2

Taylor Ward and Jose Barrero launched three-run homers to help Baltimore beat visiting Pittsburgh in Sarasota, Fla. Orioles starter Kyle Bradish allowed just one hit and one walk in five innings, while Chris Bassitt closed the game with two runs allowed over four innings. Nicholas Cimillo hit a pinch-hit homer in the ninth for the Pirates.

Twins 2, Tigers 1

Kaelen Culpepper hit a walk-off single to left with one out as host Minnesota edged Detroit in Fort Myers, Fla. The Twins tied the game in the eighth on Ildefonso Ruiz's sacrifice fly. Taj Bradley struck out seven while allowing one run on three hits during five innings. Detroit had just four hits, with Riley Greene’s fourth-inning double accounting for their lone lead earlier in the game.

Nationals 3, Cardinals 1

Abimelec Ortiz and Trey Lipscomb drove in runs in the eighth inning as Washington held off St. Louis in West Palm Beach, Fla. Ortiz broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI double, and Lipscomb followed with a run-scoring single. Cade Cavalli and four relievers combined to limit the Cardinals to five hits. Nolan Gorman had tied the game in the sixth for St. Louis.

Reds 6, Brewers 3

Matt McLain continued his strong spring by going 3-for-3 with his fifth home run, leading Cincinnati past visiting Milwaukee in Goodyear, Ariz. McLain’s first-inning homer and two singles boosted his average to .607. Noelvi Marte and Jose Trevino added solo homers. Starter Andrew Abbott allowed six hits and two runs over 3 2/3 innings while striking out five. Gary Sanchez and Reese McGuire homered for the Brewers.

Athletics 13, Diamondbacks 3

The visiting Athletics hit five homers in the first five innings to rout Arizona in Scottsdale, Ariz. Andy Ibanez, Shea Langeliers, Max Muncy, Tyler Soderstrom, and Brent Rooker all went deep. Starter Luis Morales allowed four hits and two runs over 4 2/3 innings. Ildemaro Vargas and Danny Serretti homered for the Diamondbacks.

Angels 8, White Sox 4

Jo Adell and Chris Taylor homered as Los Angeles rallied from a 4-0 deficit to beat Chicago in Phoenix. Adell, Taylor, Oswald Peraza, and Kyren Paris each had two hits, with Paris stealing three bases. Alek Manoah allowed eight hits and four runs over four innings. Austin Hays and Colson Montgomery homered for the White Sox.

Rockies 11, Mariners 7

Glenallen Hill hit a three-run homer in the eighth to give Colorado the lead over host Seattle in Peoria, Ariz. Adael Amador and Braxton Fulford also homered for the Rockies. Starter Chase Dollander allowed seven hits and four runs over 3 1/3 innings. Cole Young went 3-for-5 with a homer, and Rhylan Thomas had three hits for Seattle.

Cubs 9, Royals (ss) 8

Matthew Halbach's one-out double drove in Scott Kingery as Chicago walked off Kansas City's split squad in Mesa, Ariz. Pedro Ramirez hit a grand slam and Nico Hoerner added a solo homer. Starter Colin Rea allowed five runs on five hits in four innings. Kansas City hit five home runs in the game.

Giants 5, Royals (ss) 2

Jerar Encarnacion hit a two-run homer as part of a four-run third inning to help San Francisco beat Kansas City in Surprise, Ariz. Tyler Mahle kept his 0.00 spring ERA with three scoreless innings. Christian Koss, Parks Harber, and Jared Oliva contributed two hits each. Gavin Cross homered for Kansas City.

Yankees 8, Blue Jays 1

Giancarlo Stanton hit two home runs, driving in three runs, as New York defeated Toronto in Tampa, Fla. Jonathan Ornelas and Leonard Gabrielson added solo shots, while Trent Grisham and Randal Grichuk had RBI doubles. Cam Schlittler allowed one run on two hits over 3 2/3 innings. Jesus Sanchez had a run-scoring double for Toronto.

—Field Level Media/Reuters