Bryce Harper got his first hit with Philadelphia, and Manny Machado homered for San Diego.
Both of baseball’s big offseason free agents are finally getting into the swing of things at spring training.
Harper lined a 97 mph fastball to center field for a single in the fourth inning Wednesday against Detroit, snapping his 0-for-9 start to Grapefruit League play with the Phillies. The slugger jokingly gestured toward the dugout that he wanted to keep the ball as a souvenir.
It was Harper’s 16th plate appearance over six exhibition games. Spencer Turnbull struck him out swinging in the first inning.
His final time up, Harper walked against Reed Garrett leading off the seventh. The 2015 NL MVP has struck out six times and drawn five walks.
“Took great swings on pitches that he just missed and fouled back,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said after his team’s 3-1 loss to the Tigers.
“And one swing, a foul ball (down the third base side) that was a real near-miss. You could see with just a little bit better timing that ball is in the seats in left field. So, a lot to get excited about there with Bryce.”
Harper played seven innings in right field.
Kapler plans to hit Harper third regularly during the season.
“Right now I’m happy with Harper in the 3-hole because I think it makes him feel most confident,” Kapler said. “For me, that trumps anything.”
Harper agreed to a $330 million, 13-year contract in late February, almost two weeks after spring training began. He missed one game after getting hit by a pitch in the ankle on Friday.
Machado, who signed a $300 million, 10-year deal with the Padres on Feb. 21, hit his first homer of the spring. The two-run shot came off Brandon Woodruff in the first inning of San Diego’s 10-7 loss to Milwaukee.
Machado is batting .176 with four RBIs.
MORE FROM AROUND SPRING TRAINING
DODGERS 4, CUBS 4
Corey Seager homered in his Cactus League debut, which marked his first game against big league competition for Los Angeles since April 29. The two-time All-Star shortstop and 2016 NL Rookie of the Year had Tommy John surgery May 4 on his right elbow and arthroscopic surgery Aug. 7 to repair his left hip.
Seager and A.J. Pollock connected off Chicago starter Cole Hamels, touched up for four runs and seven hits in six innings. Seager also had a sacrifice fly. Anthony Rizzo went deep for the Cubs.
INDIANS (SS) 4, ANGELS 2
Carlos Carrasco yielded two runs and six hits while striking out eight and walking one in 5 2/3 innings for Cleveland. “He’s been really consistent this spring,” manager Terry Francona said. Jordan Luplow homered and drove in three runs.
Tyler Skaggs gave up three runs and five hits in five innings for the Angels, who announced their 12-year contract with star outfielder Mike Trout. A person with knowledge of the record deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday that it’s worth $432 million.
GIANTS 13, INDIANS (SS) 0
Brandon Belt went 3 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs to power San Francisco. Buster Posey and Joe Panik each had two hits, and Pablo Sandoval added a three-run double. Drew Pomeranz worked around four walks over five hitless innings.
RED SOX 6, ORIOLES 4
Rick Porcello pitched five smooth innings for the World Series champions, allowing one run and four hits.
Cedric Mullins went 3 for 4 with a homer and a double for Baltimore. Dylan Bundy gave up one run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
TIGERS 3, PHILLIES 1
Nick Pivetta made his second start, pitching five innings and allowing three runs, three hits, while striking out eight. The Phillies managed just six singles.
Josh Harrison led off the third inning with his first home run, adding an RBI single for Detroit. Miguel Cabrera singled in a run. Rotation hopeful Spencer Turnbull started, allowing three hits in five shutout innings, striking out seven.
MARLINS 6, CARDINALS 0
Neil Walker hit a two-run homer for Miami. Brian Anderson went 2 for 2 with two RBIs and a run scored. Rotation hopeful Pablo Lopez started, pitching six scoreless innings and allowed two hits, lowering his ERA to 0.90.
St. Louis had just three hits - two singles by Drew Robinson and one from Dexter Fowler.
PIRATES 6, TWINS 5
Carl Moran drove in the winning run in the top of the ninth. Joe Musgrove made his second start, pitching five innings and allowed three runs and eight hits.
Jonathan Schoop hit a two-run home run and singled twice and scored twice for Minnesota. Byron Buxton had an RBI single and is batting .438. C.J. Cron doubled, singled and scored twice.
Michael Pineda started, giving up two hits in five shutout innings, striking out five. The Twins released first baseman Lucas Duda.
ASTROS 2, YANKEES 1
Carlos Correa hit his first home run - a solo shot - for Houston. Wade Miley started, pitching 4 1/3 innings and giving up one run and three hits and two walks.
Gary Sanchez doubled in New York’s only run.
Also, New York pitcher Luis Severino played catch at the Yankees’ spring training facility in Tampa for the first time since being shut down on March 5 because of a shoulder issue. Severino is slated to play catch again on Thursday.
Manager Aaron Boone did not have a timeline for Severino’s first bullpen session, but expects if Thursday goes well it would follow soon after.
BRAVES 8, BLUE JAYS 7
Ronald Acuna Jr. went 2 for 3 with a stolen base and a run scored for Atlanta. Sean Newcomb allowed three runs, two hits and five walks in five innings.
Kevin Pillar hit a three-run home run and Teoscar Hernandez added a two-run shot for Toronto. Matt Shoemaker allowed three runs, three hits and two walks in five innings and struck out seven.
BREWERS 10, PADRES 7
Wil Myers had a two-run homer for San Diego. Matt Strahm allowed two hits and a walk in five scoreless innings.
Ben Gamel went 3 for 5 with a two-run home run and four RBIs for Milwaukee. Eric Thames added a two-run homer and Manny Pina hit a solo shot. Brandon Woodruff went 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs and four hits and struck out eight.
DIAMONDBACKS 11, WHITE SOX 2
Alex Avila hit two three-run home runs for Arizona. Closer Archie Bradley retired all five batters he faced and added a single.
Ryan Goins hit his first home run for Chicago. Ervin Santana allowed four runs and eight hits, two walks in four innings. Starter Lucas Giolito entered in the sixth and went four innings and allowed seven runs and eight hits.
REDS 6, RANGERS 1
Jose Iglesias went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored for Cincinnati. Kyle Farmer added two singles and an RBI. Tanner Roark went 5 1/3 innings and allowed a run, five hits, two walks and struck out five.
Delino DeShields hit his third double for Texas and scored on Rougned Odor’s single.
ROYALS 8, ROCKIES 7
Hunter Dozier hit a three-run homer and Frank Schwinder also connected against Colorado starter Tyler Anderson, who struck out seven in six innings. Nolan Arenado, Daniel Murphy and Chris Iannetta homered for Colorado. Ian Desmond had three hits and two RBIs.
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