Harper returns to Nats’ lineup
Bryce Harper was back in Washington’s lineup Saturday following surgery to remove an ingrown toenail. He struck out twice and walked in the Nationals’ 8-1 Grapefruit League win over the Astros in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Stephen Strasburg pitched two innings in his first spring start for the Nationals. Coming off back-to-back 15-win seasons, Strasburg gave up a run on three hits and struck out two.
Houston starter Justin Verlander pitched three shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out five.
Cactus League highlights: Justin Turner doubled and scored on a Matt Kemp home run as the Dodgers roughed up Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray in his second start in a 14-6 win. Ray allowed five runs, four hits and two walks on two-third of an inning . ... Tyler Chatwood pitched two innings and allowed only a walk in his second outing as the Cubs beat the Reds 7-4 . ... White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech made his second start and pitched 21⁄3 innings, allowing only an unearned run in a 9-5 win over the Royals . ... Trevor Story and Ryan McMahon both homered for the first time for the Rockies, but Colorado lost 6-5 to the Brewers. Milwaukee’s Eric Thames had a double and his first spring home run. Grapefruit League highlights: Ivan Nova made his second start and pitched three innings, allowing one run and three hits with two strikeouts as the Pirates beat the Phillies 4-3. Jose Osuna hit his first home run in his only at-bat, a pinch-hit two-run shot in the seventh as Pittsburgh scored three times to win for just the second time this spring . ... Rays ace Chris Archer didn’t make it out of the second inning in his second start, but Tampa Bay beat the Tigers 7-4. Archer set down just four batters and allowed two runs, two hits and two walks. ... Xander Bogaerts had two hits, including a double, and scored a run as the Red Sox beat the Yankees 5-3 . ... Kevin Pillar and Yangervis Solarte homered for the first time and Russell Martin added a three-run shot as the Blue Jays beat the Twins 13-8 . ... Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman put a rough first start behind and pitched three perfect innings, striking out five, in Baltimore’s 4-2 win over the Phillies . ... Mets righthander Noah Syndergaard pitched three innings in his second start, but New York lost to the Marlins 1-0.
Wilson exits camp: Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson says he didn’t neglect his football duties during his week at spring training with the Yankees.
“I’m definitely not sitting on the couch,” Wilson said.
Wilson, who took batting practice with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge during his final Yankees workout Saturday, gave an autographed football to all of his teammates.
Wilson got an at-bat Friday against Atlanta, striking out on a 2-2 pitch from left-hander Max Fried.
Briefly Tampa Bay finalized a $4 million, oneyear contract with outfielder Carlos Gomez, who hit .255 with 17 home runs, 23 doubles, 51 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 105 games for Texas last season. .. Tigers ace Michel Fulmer will miss Sunday’s start against the Nationals with elbow soreness.