Brett Lawrie Launches Pair of Homers to Keep A's in First Place; Pirates All Over Phillies in 18-4 Rout, Pedro Alvarez Slams

Players of the Day for Monday, March 30, 2015

Grapefruit League

Pedro Alvarez

In their eventual 18-4 win over the Phillies, the Pirates put on a slugging display, banging out six home runs, but, prior to the bottom of the fifth, the slugging nearly came to the style done with fists instead of bats.

Down 6-0 at the time, tensions were rising in the Philadelphia dugout, and both benches cleared before order was restored. No punches were thrown, but Phillies first base coach Juan Samuel and Pirates third base coach Rick Sofield were ejected.

Matters just got worse for the Phillies, as the Pirates exploded for 12 more runs. Pedro Alvarez smacked a pair of home runs - one of them a grand slam - and drove in six runs.

In 13 exhibition games, Alvarez is batting .325 with four homers and 15 RBI.

The Pirates improved to 14-10 with the win, drawing to within one game of the Grapefruit League-leading Mets. Pittsburgh is tied for second place with the Blue Jays.

Cactus League

Brett Lawrie

Just in case nobody noticed, it's beginning to look like some teams are actually serious about winning the race in the Cactus League.

The top three teams - the A's, Dodgers and Royals - were all in action on Monday, each producing a win to keep the competitive juices flowing.

The Dodgers topped the Diamondbacks, 4-2; Kansas City roughed up the Rangers, 11-7, with Mike Moustakas hitting a grand slam, and the first-place A's pummeled the Rockies, 11-2, helped along by two homers from Brett Lawrie.

Lawrie delivered a solo shot in the fifth inning, followed by a three-run blast in the sixth.

Penciled in to be the A's starting third baseman this season, Lawrie was picked up from Toronto, where he had played all of his major league career, beginning in 2011.

The Athletics have a one-game edge over the Dodgers and lead the Royals by 1 1/2.

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Chris Dominguez Powers Reds over Angels; Chase Utley Homers Twice as Phillies Tie Tigers

Players of the Day for Sunday, March 29, 2015

Grapefruit League

Utley: 2HR 3RBI

Though the game ended in a 4-4 tie, the Phillies and Tigers each have something to take away from the contest.

For the Tigers, the knowledge that Yoenis Cespedes is going to be an integral part of their lineup became apparent as he went 2-for-3 with his fourth home run of Spring, driving in two runs. Also, Anibal Sanchez, despite allowing all four runs, fanned 10.

The Phillies can be confident that their all-star second-baseman, Chase Utley, still has what it takes to play the game at a high level.

Utley cranked out a pair of homers for the Phillies - a solo shot and a two-run job - driving in three of their four runs.

A Phillie since breaking into the majors in 2003, Utley has been named to six all-star games, most recently in 2014. Last year, he hit .270 with 11 homers and 78 RBI.

Chris Dominguez

Cactus League

The Reds did not make the playoffs last season, but they're gearing up for another run at the Cardinals, Pirates and Brewers in the contentious NL Central.

Adding to their arsenal of offensive players, the Reds are giving third baseman/first baseman, Chris Dominguez, an extended look and the 6'4" mammoth minor leaguer is responding.

Dominguez stroked a single, two doubles and his third home run, going 4-for-5 and driving in four runs as the Reds downed the Angels, 8-6.

Having had only a brief stint with the Giants as a major leaguer and going 1-for-17, the Reds acquired Dominguez in the off-season and may get some playing time when the regular season begins. After all, in addition to the three dingers, he's batting .340, going 17-for-50, with 13 RBI.

Alejandro De Aza Powers O's over Yanks, 10-2; Tyson Ross Fans 12 as Padres Whip Rangers, 3-2

Players of the Day for Saturday, March 28, 2015

Grapefruit League

De Aza: HR 4RBI

With a 10-15 mark in the Grapefruit League, the Orioles haven't exactly been catching anyone's eye this Spring, but, in their 10-2 victory over the Yankees in Tampa, there were some signs that the team which won the AL East last season is re-emerging in time for games that matter.

Batting in the leadoff position, Alejandro De Aza homered and had a sac fly in three at-bats, driving in four runs in the rout.

De Aza, picked up from the White Sox mid-season by the O's adds serious speed and power at the top of the order. Between the two clubs last season, De Aza hit eight homers and stole 17 bases, and he continued to work on cutting down on strikeouts - from 147 in 2013 to 119 last year.

Backup catcher, Steve Clevenger, went 3-for-3 and scored three times. Starting pitcher, Tyler Wilson, worked four innings, allowing only one hit, while fanning two with no walks.

Ross: 12 Ks, 3-0

The Yankees managed only three hits off Baltimore pitching, though two of them were solo home runs, by Stephen Drew and Alex Rodriguez.

Cactus League

Though he allowed six hits and two runs over the course of six innings, Tyson Ross managed to strike out 12 Texas Rangers and notch his third win of the exhibition season, in a 3-2 Padre win over Texas.

Ross looks to improve upon last year's marks and bolster what appears to be a solid rotation in San Diego.

Last year, in his first full season as a starter with the Padres, Ross et career-highs in starts (31), innings (195.2), strikeouts (195) and ERA (2.81) going 13-14 with 195 strikeouts in 31 starts, which included two complete games and a shutout.

Look for Ross to challenge for league lead in the K department. He finished eighth last season in the National League.

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10-0 Yankee Win Features Stephen Drew, Michael Pineda; Royals' Ventura Throws 7 Innings of No-Hit Ball

Players of the Day for Friday, March 27, 2015

Grapefruit League

Drew: 3-3, 2RBI

The Yankees swamped the Phillies, 10-0, Friday, in exhibition baseball, but, even though the score was one-sided and out-of-hand, it could have been worse.

Pineda: CG W

The game was called on account of rain in the top sixth inning. The Yankees had scored seven in the fifth, plated three in the sixth, and were threatening to score more.

Stephen Drew, the former Diamondback and Red Sox player that many hoped would be the second coming of Derek Jeter (or maybe Willie Randolph) had a productive afternoon, going 3-for-3 with two singles and a double, driving in a pair of runs.

Yankee starter, Michael Pineda, scattered five hits over five innings without walking any hitters, striking out five. His effort was awarded with the win and the rare Spring training complete game, since Pineda completed all five innings against Phillies' batters.

Cactus League

Ventura: 7 Strong

Since their blistering, 10-1 start to the Cactus League season, the Kansas City Royals have tailed off a bit, but, with about a week left to the exhibition schedule, they're looking to finish strong after downing the Mariners, 5-1, Friday, for their second victory in a row.

Key to the win was the exemplary work of right-hander, Yordano Ventura, who, in his fourth start of Spring, got his first win, tossing seven innings of no-hit ball in the Royals' victory.

Ventura walked two and struck out four, after struggling in his previous starts. The excursion was a good sign that Ventura will be back on track for the regular season, after going 14-10 with a 3.20 ERA in 2014. Last season, Ventura was a workhorse, starting 30 games and lasting 183 innings.

The win kept the Royals firmly in the hunt in the Cactus League standings, tied with the Dodgers for second place, 1/2 game behind the Oakland A's.

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