Lance Lynn Shuts Out Marlins over Six; Royals Wrap Up Cactus League as Eric Hosmer Leads

Players of the Day for Thursday, March 28, 2013

Grapefruit League

Lynn: 6IP, 2H, 0ER

With exhibition season winding down and opening day just a few days off, starting pitchers are getting in the final tune-ups.

Lance Lynn, last season's rookie phenom for the St. Louis Cardinals, has to be feeling good after blanking the Marlins for six innings on two hits in St. Louis' 1-0 victory.

The burly right-hander struck out five, didn't allow a walk and improved to 2-3 in his final Grapefruit League start. Three Cardinal relievers each worked an inning to keep the shutout intact, sending the Cardinals to a 16-14 record, good for fourth place in the standings.

Lynn was 18-7 in 2012, with a 3.78 ERA. He fanned 180 hitters in 176 innings.

Cactus League

Eric Hosmer

Kansas City wrapped up the Cactus League title with an 8-3 win over Cincinnati, winning as they have all Spring, by battering the opposition with a relentless attack.

The Royals banged out 16 hits against a parade of six Reds' hurlers, scoring five in the third and three more in the fifth.

Alex Gordon hit his seventh homer, catcher Salvador Perez whacked his fourth and Eric Hosmer went 3-for-5 (all singles) and scored a pair of runs. Hosmer is having a spectacular Spring, batting .385 with two homers and 14 RBI.

Kansas City stands 3 1/2 games in front of Seattle in the Cactus standings, with just three games remaining. The Royals have posted a 24-7 in exhibition play.