Lyons helps Cards win spring opener

JUPITER, Fla. -- Tyler Lyons was back on the mound Thursday for the St. Louis Cardinals, the stakes slightly smaller than the last time he pitched.

Even so, he wanted to throw well -- and did.

Lyons allowed one run in three innings to help the Cardinals win their spring training opener against the Miami Marlins 4-3.

Last year Lyons made eight starts, and he threw seven scoreless innings when the Cardinals beat Pittsburgh to clinch the NL Central in the final week of the season.

"Any time you have success like that on a big stage, it tells you you can do it," Lyons said. "That was a good one to go into the offseason and have that to remember. Hopefully that's something I can build off."

Manager Mike Matheny remembered Lyons' last start as one of the best all season for St. Louis.

"He's a talented kid," Matheny said. "It's just a matter of him putting it together. ... He had a great tempo today. We've been working on him being quicker to the plate, and he has made a great adjustment. And his stuff was real good."

Lyons gave up a home run and a double to Marcell Ozuna but allowed only one other baserunner. He threw 41 pitches.

The left-hander is expected to be in the bullpen this season but might also be a spot starter, Matheny said. Lyons has a 4.27 ERA in 40 appearances over the past three seasons.

ORIOLES-RAYS

Orioles roughed up

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Corey Dickerson hit a home run that stopped rolling 569 feet from home plate, according to the Rays, and Tampa Bay roughed up Miguel Gonzalez and the Baltimore Orioles 10-3.

Gonzalez allowed seven runs in 11/3 innings. Desmond Jennings had a pair of run-scoring doubles for Tampa Bay.

BLUE JAYS-PIRATES

Floyd solid for Jays

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Finally healthy after a three-year battle with injuries, right-hander Gavin Floyd turned in a solid start for the Toronto Blue Jays in a 10-8 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Floyd worked two innings and gave up one run on two hits. He walked one and struck out two. Justin Smoak hit a towering home run for the Blue Jays.

ASTROS-PHILLIES

Newcomer helps out

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Houston newcomer Doug Fister struck out four in two shutout innings as the Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2.

George Springer got hits and scored a run for Houston. Matt Duffy hit a long home run over the left field fence and out of the ballpark at Bright House Field.

NATIONALS-METS

Nats rout Mets

VIERA, Fla. -- Facing his former team for the first time, Daniel Murphy walked and scored on Anthony Rendon's two-run single in a four-run first inning against Rafael Montero in the Washington Nationals' 9-4 victory over the New York Mets.

Washington ace Max Scherzer, who no-hit the Mets in his final start last season, allowed 1 hit and struck out 1 over 2 innings.

TIGERS-BRAVES

Pair helps Tigers

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Victor Martinez hit his second home run of spring training and Ian Kinsler had a three-run double in the Detroit Tigers' 8-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves.

Freddie Freeman homered in the first off Daniel Norris, the only hit Norris allowed in two innings.

PHILLIES-YANKEES

A-Rod homers

TAMPA, Fla. -- Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run home run on the second pitch of his 2016 spring training debut as the New York Yankees lost 13-4 to a Philadelphia Phillies' split squad.

Carlos Beltran had a one-out single in the first, and A-Rod homered on a 1-0 pitch from Adam Morgan. Maikel Franco had a home run for the Phillies.

REDS-INDIANS

Reds top Indians

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Brandon Phillips had a sacrifice fly and Adam Duvall added a two-run single in the first inning off Danny Salazar, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 9-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Anthony DeSclafani and veteran free agent Jonathan Sanchez pitched two hitless innings each before Joey Butler singled in the fifth off J.J. Hoover, who is the favorite to replace Aroldis Chapman as the Reds' closer.

DODGERS-WHITE SOX

Roberts wins debut

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Clayton Kershaw threw two scoreless innings in his first spring start and new manager Dave Roberts won in his debut as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago White Sox 6-1.

Los Angeles scored three runs in two innings off starter John Danks. The Dodgers scored twice in the first on RBI singles from Yasiel Puig and Yasmani Grandal.

BREWERS-CUBS

Brewers beat Cubs

PHOENIX -- Chase Anderson threw two scoreless innings in his Milwaukee spring debut and helped the Brewers' split squad beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1.

Anderson struck out Kris Bryant in the first inning and allowed a single to Miguel Montero in the second. Montero added another single to account for two of the Cubs' seven hits.

RANGERS-ROYALS

Royals blanked

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Royals' Edinson Volquez allowed one run in the first inning in an otherwise tidy spring training debut, though the Texas Rangers went on to rout Kansas City 10-0.

The only run he allowed came when left fielder Brett Eibner lost Mitch Moreland's high fly ball in the sun, allowing Lewis Brinson to scoot home from second base for a 1-0 lead. Brett Nicholas and James Jones later homered as the Rangers pulled away late.

BREWERS-GIANTS

Brewers squeak by

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Jake Peavy allowed six runs and nine hits, including a two-run home run to Chris Carter, over 12/3 innings in the San Francisco Giants' 8-7 loss to a Milwaukee Brewers split squad.

Eric Young Jr. led off each of the first two innings with a single and scored twice for the Brewers. Shane Peterson drove in two runs and Aaron Hill added an RBI double for Milwaukee.

ANGELS-ATHLETICS

Trout leads Angels

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Mike Trout went 3 for 3 and made an impressive first-inning catch, leading the Los Angeles Angels to an 8-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

Kole Calhoun also had three hits and scored two runs for the Angels. Garrett Richards yielded two runs and two hits over two innings.

Sports on 03/04/2016