Why spring training exists: Cards’ Holland blows debut
Greg Holland’s debut for the Cardinals was a dud.
Holland walked four batters in the 10th inning and forced home the go-ahead run Monday night that gave the Brewers a 5-4 win in St. Louis.
“It’s hard to walk four guys and consider it a success,” Holland said. “I struggled with my command. I felt good and just put myself in a tough spot. There’s really no excuse for walking four guys in a row.”
The 32-year-old, who tied for the NL lead with 41 saves for Colorado last season, signed as a free agent on Opening Day. He pitched two innings at Class A before joining the Cardinals earlier in the day.
Holland walked two batters to begin the 10th. After a sacrifice bunt by Eric Sogard, an intentional walk loaded the bases.
“You know, they gave me the option there to swing. They really did,” said Sogard, who entered the game batting .071 but got three hits.
“I had to get the job done and get the lead runner over to third with less than two outs. I have 100 percent satisfaction getting that bunt down.”
Holland then walked Orlando Arcia, and the three-time All-Star closer was pulled.
St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said Holland won’t let this debut affect him.
“We threw him right into the fire. It was a tough spot,” Matheny said. “To me, it’s one of those where we let go and we know what we’re going to get from him. He’s a pro, and he’s going to keep working to get sharp and we know what we’re going to get.”
Royals Junis the seventh carried 10, Mariners inning, a no-hit the bid 0: Royals Jakob into scored more runs than they had in their last six games combined, and host Kansas City routed Seattle. Junis (2-0) hit three batters and walked two, but he did not allow a hit until Daniel Vogelbach’s grounder up the middle with one out in the seventh.
Blue Pearce Jays homered 7, Orioles in a third 1: Steve successive game, Josh Donaldson tacked on a ninthinning grand slam and Toronto beat Baltimore before 7,915 fans, the lowest paid crowd in Camden Yards history.
Rays 5, White Sox 4: Mallex Smith matched a career high with four hits, former A’s infielder Joey Wendle hit his first homer and Tampa Bay stopped an eight-game losing streak with a win in snowy Chicago. A bullpen that blew late leads in two of the three games at Boston last weekend got the job done as Alex Colome escaped a secondand-third jam in the ninth by getting three straight groundouts.
Phillies Nick 6, Williams Reds 5: Pinchhitter hit a tie-breaking solo homer in the bottom of the eighth for Philadelphia. Scott Kingery homered for the first time in his career and Rhys Hoskins also went deep for the Phillies. Tucker Barnhart hit a two-run shot for Cincinnati.
Indians Kluber two-hit struck ball 2, Tigers for out eight 13, 0: pitching innings, Corey and USF’s Bradley Zimmer hit a two-run homer as host Cleveland beat Detroit amid snow flurries. The temperature at first pitch was 33 degrees, one above Progressive Field’s record low set Sunday.
Nationals 2, Braves 0: Max Scherzer stole the first base of his professional career and allowed only two singles in his fifth big-league shutout, and host Washington ended a five-game losing skid while getting back to .500.
Mets 4, Marlins 2: Noah Syndergaard allowed one earned run in six innings and visiting New York won its sixth consecutive game to match the best start in team history at 8-1. Jeurys Familia escaped a jam to pitch a scoreless ninth and earn his fifth save, most in the majors.
Angels Pujols hit 8, his Rangers 616th career 3: Albert homer, Martin Maldonado had two RBI singles and visiting Los Angeles extended its best start in more than three decades to move to 8-3.
Astros 2, Twins 0: Justin Verlander struck out nine over seven dominant innings, Carlos Correa had two hits and scored twice and visiting Houston beat Minnesota.
Padres Clayton the for the visiting second first 7, Richard pitch Rockies San deck he Diego, homered saw at 6: Coors from Pitcher driving Field into Colorado’s Rockies’ bullpen Jon Gray in rightcenter. above the Carlos Asuaje followed Richard with a home run, the second time this season the Padres have gone deep in successive at-bats. Gray opened strongly, striking out the side in the first, but gave up five runs in the fourth.
Pirates-Cubs, postponed: Chicago’s home opener against Pittsburgh was postponed because of snow. The game was rescheduled for Tuesday, previously an off day.