Spring training roundup: Gerrit Cole passes another test as Yankees rout Cubs

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole passed another test against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday in his second start of the spring as he continued his return from Tommy John surgery last March.

Cole racked up three strikeouts in the first inning — fanning Cubs regulars Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch and Ian Happ — while also allowing a 413-foot solo homer to Alex Bregman. He threw 26 pitches through 1 2/3 innings and displayed increased velocity from the 2024 season as the Yankees defeated the Cubs, 8-3, in Mesa, Ariz.

Lefty newcomer Ryan Weathers produced his best outing of the spring, pitching five innings and allowing only one run on four hits. The former Marlin, who remains in New York’s rotation, allowed a long home run to Miguel Amaya, but fanned four and dropped his spring ERA to 8.83. Ben Rice, Jasson Dominguez and Randal Grichuk homered for the Yankees.

Edward Cabrera, who was teammates with Weathers last year in Miami, started for the Cubs. He gave up all three home runs and five earned runs overall, with seven hits, two walks and three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Twins 15, Red Sox 6

Ranger Suarez completed a rocky spring training with his new squad, allowing eight earned runs over 4 1/3 innings as Minnesota routed Boston in Fort Myers, Fla.

Suarez, who signed a five-year, $130 million contract in January, surrendered nine hits including a pair of home runs. He walked one, fanned five and finished the Grapefruit League slate with an 11.00 ERA. Trevor Story went 1-for-3 with two RBIs for Boston and finished spring with a .404 batting average.

The Red Sox built an early 5-2 lead, but Brooks Lee cut the deficit to 5-4 with a two-run long ball in the bottom of the second. Byron Buxton gave the Twins the lead for good with another two-run shot in the fifth. Victor Caratini and Kody Clemens added solo homers and former Dodger James Outman hit two-run blasts in the sixth and seventh.

Braves 3, Rays 2

Mike Yastrzemski hit his sixth home run of the spring and starter Grant Holmes lowered his ERA to 1.02 as Atlanta held off Tampa Bay in North Port, Fla. The Braves (21-7-2) led the Grapefruit League in wins.

Yastrzemski’s solo shot in the fourth inning gave the Braves a 2-1 lead. Drake Baldwin, Eli White and Jorge Mateo each went 2-for-3, with Baldwin and Mateo picking up RBI doubles. Holmes, who has earned a spot in the rotation, allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while fanning four in 5 1/3 innings.

Carson Williams — expected to start at shortstop for the Rays due to Taylor Walls’ injury — and Cooper Flemming each collected RBI singles.

Rangers 4, Royals 1

Jack Leiter threw four scoreless innings as Texas handled Kansas City in Arlington, Texas.

Leiter, who will fill a spot in the back of the Rangers’ rotation, allowed only two hits and struck out six. Joc Pederson contributed a solo homer in the fourth inning.

Seth Lugo went four innings for the Royals, permitting three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks. He fanned four batters in his final prep for a start Sunday in Atlanta.

Nick Loftin doubled and scored for Kansas City in the eighth.

Tigers 11, Rockies 8

Dillon Dingler and Wenceel Perez each homered twice as visiting Detroit outslugged Colorado in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Perez drove in five runs and Dingler plated three as the Tigers amassed 10 extra-base hits in their 15-hit attack. Minor leaguer Max Anderson added a solo shot in the eighth and drove in three runs. Veteran hurler Justin Verlander was not sharp for Detroit, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. He gave up two home runs and fanned four.

Jordan Beck gave Colorado a 3-2 lead with a bases-clearing double in the third inning, then Brett Sullivan and Ezequiel Tovar added homers in the fourth and fifth, respectively, to forge a 6-6 tie.

Guardians 10, Diamondbacks 5

Brayan Rocchio and Daniel Schneemann blasted early two-run homers and minor leaguer Nolan Schubart broke the game open with an eighth-inning three-run shot as Cleveland knocked off host Arizona in Phoenix.

Gabriel Arias added a two-run single to cap a four-run first inning for the Guardians. Starter Parker Messick (3-0) struck out six in 4 2/3 innings to earn the win, but also gave up four runs on six hits with one walk.

Michael Soroka did not make a good case to fill a role in the D-backs’ rotation, giving up six earned runs on 10 hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings as his spring ERA ballooned to 7.50. Jordan Lawlar contributed a two-run RBI single in the fourth to slice Arizona’s deficit to 6-4.

–Field Level Media