Jordan Luplow and Michael Harris II hit home runs, Bryce Elder struck out six batters in 3 1/3 innings and the visiting Atlanta Braves topped the Boston Red Sox 3-2 in spring training action on Thursday in Fort Myers, Fla.
Luplow's two-run shot off Nick Pivetta (0-1) put the Braves ahead 2-1 in the second before Harris added a solo shot off Tanner Houck in the fifth, his third homer of the spring, for the critical insurance run.
Elder (1-1) walked two and yielded two of Boston's four hits, including Masataka Yoshida's home run in the first inning. Atlanta's pitching staff racked up 12 strikeouts, while Boston's answered with 13.
Rob Refsnyder hit an RBI single in the eighth for the Red Sox but Braves reliever Trey Riley recorded the final out to lock up the save.
Astros 6, Cardinals 3
Chas McCormick went 3-for-3 with an RBI, Cristian Javier fanned six batters in three innings and Houston defeated host St. Louis in Jupiter, Fla.
McCormick's run-scoring single capped a four-run first inning for the Astros, plenty of run support for Javier (2-0), who yielded two runs on three hits and a walk. Grae Kessinger and Joey Loperfido added RBI singles in the seventh after the Cardinals drew within a run.
Jordan Walker and Matt Carpenter homered off Javier for the Cardinals. Kyle Gibson (0-2) was dinged for four runs on five hits while striking out three in three innings.
Rays 3, Phillies 2
Jose Siri hit a two-run infield single to cap a three-run first inning and host Tampa Bay held off Philadelphia in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Harold Ramirez had an RBI single before Siri brought two runs in to improve his spring training total to five RBIs. Rays starter Jacob Lopez (1-0) threw two scoreless, hitless innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
Aramis Garcia drove in two runs in a single for the Phillies, upping his spring total to seven RBIs. Aaron Nola (1-1) struck out five without a walk but allowed three runs on six hits over 3 2/3 frames.
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