Matt Harrison Shuts Down Dodgers in Texas Win; Shawn Hill Looks Solid for Tigers

Players of the Day for Saturday, March 16, 2013

Grapefruit League

Shawn Hill

Detroit moved into a tie for second place with Tampa Bay in the Grapefruit League with a 3-0 win over St. Louis, the shutout the work of Shawn Hill and three relievers, who combined to hold the Cardinals to just four hits.

Hill (shown here in a Toronto cap), acquired by Detroit from Toronto following the 2012 campaign, hurled four innings of scoreless ball, allowing just one hit and one walk while fanning three.

A ten-year veteran, Hill hasn't made a major league start since 2010 with the Blue Jays, but is hoping to fill out an already-solid Detroit staff. After being bombed for 10 hits and five earned runs in his first outing this Spring, Saturday's effort was a huge step toward that end.

Cactus League

Matt Harrison

The Texas Rangers have developed some promising starters over the past few seasons, but none is more impressive than Matt Harrison, who tossed five innings of one-hit ball in Texas' 4-0 win over the 7-11 Dodgers.

Harrison didn't walk a batter and struck out three, dueling with Dodger ace, Clayton Kershaw, who threw six innings of shutout ball. Neither starter received a decision, as the Tigers didn't score until the seventh inning, when they plated all of their runs.

Harrison started 32 games for the Rangers in 2012, going 18-11 with a 3.32 ERA.

Texas evened its exhibition record at 10-10.