BASEBALL ROUNDUP
Mets 8, Nationals 4
A spring training grand slam was special for the Mets' Pete Alonso. The 2019 NL Rookie of the Year hit an opposite-field home run to right-center off Cole Henry in the fifth inning in Thursday's win over Washington.
Alonso did not have any home runs in 45 exhibition at-bats last year after hitting 53 home runs during the 2019 regular season, the most in the major leagues and a rookie record. And he hit the slam with some special fans in the seats at Clover Park.
"Big shout out — happy birthday, mom!" Alonso said of his mother Michelle, who was at the ballpark with dad Peter. "Glad I could get a birthday bomb for you. So thank you guys for coming. It's really nice to have my parents here at the games."
Fans are back at spring training games in limit numbers after the entire 2020 regular season was played in empty ballparks because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Nimmo led off the game with his first home run. and David Peterson, allowed one hit in two shutout innings. Jeurys Familia, who struggled with control issues last season, walked two in a scoreless 31-pitch inning. Newcomer Trevor May walked one in a scoreless inning. Ryan Zimmerman hit his second home run, a three-run drive off Dellin Betances.
Orioles 6, Red Sox 3 (6)
No. 2 starter Dean Kremer struggled in his first outing for Baltimore, yielding three runs, three hits and two walks while retiring five batters. Ramón Urias hit a three-run homer. Jarren Duran, Boston's No. 2 outfield prospect, hit his second home run and his second double. Newcomer Matt Andriese pitched two perfect innings.
Phillies 15, Yankees 0 (8)
Alex Bohm hit a three-run homer off Albert Abreu, who gave up four runs in a nine-run fourth that included Rhys Hopkins' RBI single. Matt Moore allowed one hit and one walk in two shutout innings.
Deivi García allowed solo homers to Scott Kingery in the first and Odubel Herrera in the second.
Notes Boone out of hospital
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone was discharged from St. Joseph's Hospital on Thursday, a day after having a pacemaker installed.
Boone is on a leave of absence from the Yankees and intends to return to work in a few days.
The 47-year-old is entering his fourth season as Yankees manager. He had open-heart surgery in 2009.
Bench coach Carlos Mendoza took over as acting manager for Wednesday night's 4-1 win over Toronto in Tampa and Thursday's 15-0 loss to Philadelphia in Clearwater.
Lou Gehrig Day on June 2
Major League Baseball will hold its first Lou Gehrig Day on June 2, adding Gehrig to Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente on the short list of players honored throughout the big leagues. Each home team will have “4-ALS” logos in ballparks to mark Gehrig's No. 4, and all players, managers and coaches will wear a Lou Gehrig Day patch on uniforms and may use red “4-ALS” wristbands. Teams that are off on June 2 will observe Lou Gehrig Day on June 3.
MLB said Thursday that the day will focus on finding cures and raising money for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, which is known as Lou Gehrig's disease, the legacy of Gehrig and others who died of the progressive disease that attacks nerve cells controlling muscles throughout the body.
June 2 marks the 96th anniversary of when Gehrig made started at first base for the New York Yankees in place of Willy Pipp, starting his record streak of 2,130 consecutive games played. The mark stood until September 1995 by Baltimore's Cal Ripken Jr., who played 2,632 consecutive games in a streak that ended in 1998.
Gehrig died of ALS at age 37 on June 2, 1941. He was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1939.
JBJ signs with Brewers
Free-agent outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. is joining the Milwaukee Brewers, agreeing to the parameters of a $24 million, two-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday because the details of the agreement were still being negotiated and the deal is subject to a successful physical.
Bradley would have the right to opt out after one year and $13 million, allowing him to become a free agent after after this season.
The Boston Globe first reported Bradley's decision, Bradley will join the Brewers will into spring training, which started in mid-February. Opening day is April 1.