Spring roundup: Farquhar returns, Syndergaard goes wild
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Danny Farquhar took the mound in a game again. That was more than enough on Saturday.
Farquhar's spring training appearance for the New York Yankees was his first game since the 32-year-old reliever collapsed in the Chicago White Sox dugout on April 20 because of a ruptured aneurysm and brain hemorrhage. The right-hander got one out and was charged with five runs in an 8-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"I felt great out there," Farquhar said. "I was happy to be back on the mound. Obviously, the results weren't great but I call it a good day. I felt like a baseball player, again."
Farquhar allowed three hits and walked two while throwing 19 pitches in the fourth inning. He is in camp with the Yankees on a minor league deal.
"The fact that he's on the mound and gotten to this point is pretty awesome," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "I found myself a little more emotional than I even thought. Even though it didn't go great, I think he really appreciated how special it was for him to be back out on a mound."
Farquhar's teammates moved to the top step of the third base dugout and clapped as he walked off the mound with his glove held in his right hand.
"I've never been high-fived so much giving up five runs in my career," Farquhar said.
Farquhar's wife, Lexie, and children Madison (7), Landon (3) and Liam (1) were among a dozen family members and friends at the game. Madison could be heard yelling "Daddy" from the stands.
"I heard them from the beginning," Farquhar said. "My mom, my daughter. They were screaming."
Corey Dickerson had a triple and a double, driving in two runs for Pittsburgh. Top prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes doubled and walked, scoring two runs. Jordan Lyles struggled in his second start for the Pirates, allowing three runs, seven hits and two walks in three innings.
Estevan Florial, New York's top prospect, had two doubles, driving in a run and scoring another. Miguel Andujar had an RBI double and singled.
AROUND THE GRAPEFRUIT AND CACTUS LEAGUES
ASTROS 8, METS 7
Noah Syndergaard struggled with his control in a matchup against Justin Verlander. The Mets star walked five in 2 2/3 innings but allowed no hits and just an unearned run. Verlander gave up two hits and one run — Michael Conforto's solo homer — and struck out four over three innings.
Wilson Ramos' first home run as a Met was a two-out grand slam after Robinson Cano reached base on an error to extend the fifth inning. Ramos added two singles. Edwin Diaz, the Mets new closer, made his first appearance, walking two and striking out one in a scoreless inning.
Michael Brantley had an RBI single for Houston. George Springer stole two bases and Jose Altuve one off Syndergaard in the third. Syndergaard walked Alex Bregman to load the bases with two outs but escaped unscathed when he struck out Brantley looking.
PADRES 7, GIANTS (SS) 6
Manny Machado made his Padres debut at third base and drew a walk. It was his first spring game after signing a $300 million, 10-year contract. Ian Kinsler had a three-run double, and Nick Margevicius pitched three innings and struck out four.
Drew Pomeranz pitched three innings in the start for the Giants, striking out three but giving up four runs and five hits. Catching prospect Aramis Garcia homered, as did Jonah Arenado, the younger brother of Rockies slugger Nolan Arenado.
TIGERS 7, BRAVES 4
Miguel Cabrera hit his first spring home run, adding a single and driving in three for Detroit. Nicholas Castellanos had two singles and an RBI. Jordan Zimmermann made his second start, pitching three innings and giving up a run, three hits and a walk while striking out four.
Braves left-hander Max Fried left in the second inning because of a cut on his left pinky. Ender Inciarte singled twice, scoring a run for Atlanta.
NATIONALS 10, TWINS 6
Brandon Snyder hit a grand slam and Adam Eaton doubled in a run and walked twice for Washington. Nationals newcomer Kurt Suzuki homered for the first time, a two-run shot. Patrick Corbin made his second start, pitching three innings and allowing an unearned run on two hits.
Fan favorite Willians Astudillo homered and had two hits for Minnesota, and newcomer Lucas Duda singled and hit his first double.
ORIOLES 9, RED SOX 1
Rotation hopeful Mike Wright Jr. started for the second time and pitched three shutout innings. Slugging prospect DJ Stewart had a double and two RBIs, and Ryan Mountcastle had two hits.
Xander Bogaerts hit his first spring home run to account for Boston's run.
PHILLIES 11, RAYS (SS) 3
Andrew McCutchen had two hits, including a double, as Philadelphia hit the road while Bryce Harper held his introductory press conference in Clearwater. Zach Eflin made his first start of the spring for the Phillies, allowing a run, two hits and a walk in three innings.
Avisail Garcia had a run-scoring single for Tampa Bay — his first spring hit. Daniel Robertson doubled and scored, and Emilio Bonifacio added two singles and an RBI.
RAYS (SS) 6, BLUE JAYS 5
Brandon Lowe had a single, two doubles and his first spring home run, driving in six from the leadoff spot for Tampa Bay.
Marcus Stroman made his second start for Toronto, pitching two perfect innings and striking out three. Justin Smoak hit a two-run home run, and Brandon Drury and No. 2 prospect Bo Bichette had solo shots.
CARDINALS 4, MARLINS 3
Michael Wacha yielded only a walk in three shutout innings, striking out four in his second start for St. Louis. Dexter Fowler got his first spring hit, and Paul Goldschmidt had a single and walked twice.
JT Riddle hit a two-run single for Miami, which managed just three more singles off six Cardinals pitchers. Jose Urena started for the second time, allowing two runs and four hits in 2 1/3 innings.
ANGELS 11, REDS 2
Justin Bour hit a two-run homer, and Peter Bourjos clubbed his second homer of the spring for the Angels. Felix Pena started and got two outs in the third before exiting, striking out four and walking three.
Anthony DeSclafani gave up a hit and fanned three in his two-inning start for Cincinnati. Aristides Aquino went had three hits, including a triple.
ATHLETICS 1, INDIANS 0
Paul Blackburn worked three strong innings and Fernando Rodney and Joakim Soria each threw an inning of scoreless relief. The A's used five pitchers to record the four-hit shutout. Matt Chapman doubled and scored on a wild pitch.
Trevor Bauer gave up two hits over his four-inning start for the Indians.
WHITE SOX 10, ROCKIES 6
Jose Abreu, Jon Jay and Jose Rondon each homered for the White Sox. Carlos Rodon started and earned the win but gave up three runs and three hits in three innings.
Ryan McMahon had a triple and a double, and Pat Valaika and Tom Murphy each homered for Colorado. Antonio Senzatela gave up five hits in two innings in the start.
ROYALS 8, MARINERS 0
Billy Hamilton hit two doubles and drove in a run, and Jorge Bonifacio doubled for the Royals. Brad Keller struck out two and walked one over two innings. Michael Ynoa worked two innings of two-hit relief, and six pitchers combined to allow just seven hits.
Yusei Kikuchi worked three innings in his second start, giving up two runs and two hits while striking out three. Dan Vogelbach had two hits and two walks, raising his spring OPS to 1.622 over five games.
BREWERS 7, CUBS 4
Travis Shaw homered and Christian Yelich had two hits for the Brewers. Chase Anderson gave up a hit and walked one over three innings, striking out three.
Jon Lester worked three innings for the Cubs, striking out three and giving up two runs and three hits. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo were each 0 for 2.
RANGERS 0, GIANTS (SS) 0
Rangers pitcher Luke Farrell, son of former Red Sox manager John Farrell, was hit in the jaw by a line drive off the bat of Jalen Miller. Farrell was treated on the field and left the game under his own power. The Rangers used eight pitchers to post a four-hitter, with Mike Minor working the first three innings.
Derek Holland pitched three innings for San Francisco, giving up two hits and teaming with six relievers on a four-hitter. Miller accounted for two of the Giants' hits.
DIAMONDBACKS 6, DODGERS 5
Yasmany Tomas doubled and drove in three, and infield prospect Domingo Leyba homered. Matt Andriese started and gave up two runs, one earned, over two innings.
Cody Bellinger had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in two. Brock Stewart gave up Leyba's homer but otherwise pitched two hitless innings.