SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL NOTES

Harper goes 0 for 2 against Yankees' Tanaka

Bryce Harper went 0 for 2 against New York Yankees opening-day starter Masahiro Tanaka on Wednesday night in his third spring training game, and first on the road, since signing baseball's biggest contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. The game wasn't over as of press time. The slugger is hitless in three at-bats and has walked three times overall. Harper received a mixture of applause and boos from the crowd at a packed Steinbrenner Field when he was announced before a first-inning at-bat that ended on a grounder to first base. "He's obviously not only a star player in the game but also a big attraction," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. Harper, who homered for his only hit in five regular season at-bats against Tanaka, struck out swinging on the eighth pitch of his at-bat in the third. Tanaka allowed two runs, six hits and struck out six over 3 2/3 innings. Facing Adam Ottavino in the fifth, Harper was awarded first base on catcher's interference and then stole second. Harper signed a record $330 million, 13year contract earlier this month. "Bryce being here and bringing this attention I think has a chance to create higher expectations, which can create a higher level of play from our guys," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. "And also I think it separates the guys who play with the brightest lights from the guys who can't, and I think that's a great thing for our ball club." Harper walked twice against Toronto on Saturday, and took a 96 mph fastball for strike three from AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and drew a walk from Jalen Beeks in Monday's game with Tampa Bay.

Mets 2, Astros 1

Noah Syndergaard allowed two hits in 5 2/3 shutout innings with five strikeouts and two walks. Robinson Cano hit his second home run, a two-run drive off Gerrit Cole, who allowed four hits in 4 2/3 innings. Derek Fisher drove in the Astros' run.

Twins 9, Red Sox 5

Byron Buxton hit his fourth home run — a solo shot — and doubled for Minnesota. C.J. Cron hit his first two doubles, and Jose Berrios allowed two runs and four hits in 3 1/3 innings. Blake Swihart had two doubles and two RBIs for Boston, which has lost seven straight. Tate Matheny, a son of former Cardinals catcher and manager Mike Matheny, had a two-run triple. Nathan Eovaldi pitched three innings and allowed his only run on Buxton's homer.