Nats' bullpen combines for 3 scoreless innings, hangs on to beat Tigers 5-4 for 2-game sweep

Published May 09, 2013

Associated Press

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  Washington Nationals relief pitcher Rafael Soriano (29) untucks his jersey as the Nationals defeat the Detroit Tigers 5-4 in a baseball game, Thursday, May 9, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)The Associated Press

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  Washington Nationals relief pitcher Rafael Soriano, right, celebrates a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers with catcher Wilson Ramos, left, in a baseball game, Thursday, May 9, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)The Associated Press

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  Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper, left, is safe on an attempted pick-off play at second by Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta, right, during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 9, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)The Associated Press

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  Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) catches a liner by Detroit Tigers' Alex Avila during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 9, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)The Associated Press

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  Detroit Tigers' Matt Tuiasosopo watches his three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Thursday, May 9, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)The Associated Press

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WASHINGTON –  Ryan Mattheus, Drew Storen and Rafael Soriano combined for shutout relief after Dan Haren nearly squandered a four-run lead, and the Washington Nationals beat the Detroit Tigers 5-4 Thursday to complete a two-game sweep of the AL champions.

Adam LaRoche singled in the first and second innings for his first consecutive multihit games this season, helping the Nationals to their first four-game winning streak of the year. Ryan Zimmerman, in a 2-for-14 slide coming in, had three hits.

Bryce Harper hit an RBI groundout in the first following Denard Span's leadoff double, and Harper came home from second when LaRoche singled and centerfielder Austin Jackson let the ball get past him for an error. Ian Desmond followed with a run-scoring single for a 3-1 lead.

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Ryu perfect through 4 innings for Dodgers in 3-0 win over Angels; Kemp and Ethier get RBIs

Published March 29, 2013

Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. –  Hyun-jin Ryu retired all 12 batters he faced in his final spring training start, combining with six relievers on a two-hitter, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Angels 3-0 Thursday night in the first of three straight exhibition games between the teams leading up to opening day.

The Angels didn't get their first baserunner until Alberto Callaspo greeted Matt Guerrier with a single to right field on a 1-0 pitch leading off the sixth. But he was stranded at second after winning pitcher Ronald Belisario relived Guerrier and retired Erick Aybar on a grounder to second.

The Angels' only other hit was a two-out single in the eighth by J.B. Shuck against Kenley Jansen. Brandon League pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

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Ryan Vogelsong works 6 innings, allows 3 runs on 6 hits as Giants beat Cubs 9-3

Published March 25, 2013

Associated Press

MESA, Ariz. –  Ryan Vogelsong allowed three runs on six hits in six innings, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 9-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Monday.

A dropped fly ball that turned into a run-scoring double and a two-out, two-run home run by Dioner Navarro were all the Cubs could muster against Vogelsong, who struck out three and walked two.

Vogelsong's last start of the spring will come Saturday against Oakland.

Buster Posey had three hits and drove in a run, Andres Torres and Joaquin Arias each doubled in two runs and Angel Pagan had two hits and two RBI for San Francisco.

George Kontos, Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo shut out the Cubs over the final three innings.

Left-hander Travis Wood started for the Cubs and gave up four runs on seven hits with four walks in four innings.

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Ross gives up 2 hits in 3 innings for Padres in 10-0 win over Athletics

PEORIA, Ariz. –  Tyson Ross pitched two-hit ball in his second straight scoreless outing, and Yonder Alonso hit one of the San Diego Padres' three homers in a 10-0 romp over The Oakland Athletics on Monday.

Second baseman Jonathan Galvez and left fielder Travis Buck also homered for San Diego, which roughed up Oakland starter Jarrod Parker for five runs. Parker gave up six hits and struck out two in four innings.

Ross, the former Oakland Athletics pitcher, walked one in three innings and struck out three.

Padres closer Huston Street pitched a scoreless sixth inning in his third appearance of the spring.

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Rick Porcello Ks 6 in 4 innings, Tigers beat Astros 8-5

LAKELAND, Fla. –  Rick Porcello pitched a spring training-high four scoreless innings, and Alex Avila had three RBIs to lead the Detroit Tigers to an 8-5 win over the Houston Astros on Monday.

Porcello, competing with several others for one of the remaining openings in the Tigers rotation, allowed three hits and struck out six. He lowered his spring ERA to 3.38. Potential Tigers closers Brayan Villarreal and Al Albuquerque each struck the side.

For Villarreal, it was his first appearance since his family in Venezuela was the target of an armed kidnapping attempt on Friday. None of his family members were harmed.

Jared Cosart started for the Astros and allowed three runs in two innings. He also walked four.

The Astros walked nine and committed two errors.

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