Taylor Ward homered, Nolan Schanuel extended his career-starting consecutive on-base streak to 35 games and the Los Angeles Angels beat Miami 10-2 on Wednesday, sending the Marlins to their first winless seven-game homestand in franchise history. Angels starter Patrick Sandoval struck out seven over 5 2/3 innings and overcame an opening day outing in which he allowed five runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Kyle Higashioka caught two baserunners stealing and homered in the same inning to help Joe Musgrove and the San Diego Padres beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 on Wednesday and avoid a three-game sweep. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Higashioka became the sixth catcher since 1961 to catch multiple runners stealing and hit a home run in the same inning. The others were Sammy Taylor of the Chicago Cubs in 1961, Johnny Romano of the Chicago White Sox in 1966, Ted Simmons of the Cardinals in 1975,
Only one more exhibition game separates the St. Louis Cardinals from a new baseball season. Final roster preparations are underway as the team opens the 2024 regular season on Thursday.
Bryce Harper is getting settled in as full-time first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Harper hit a hard single in his first spring training at-bat Wednesday, but the two-time NL MVP also flashed some leather at first base in a 7-7 tie against Atlanta. Harper made a diving catch on Jarred Kelenic’s grounder in the first inning, and started nifty 3-6-3 on a 105.3 mph grounder by Kelenic in the third.