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CLEARWATER, Fla. — Newly trim Ryan Howard singled in his first two at-bats of spring training, and the Philadelphia Phillies tied the New York Yankees 5-5 Wednesday in their spring training opener.
On a warm, sun-splashed day on the west side of Tampa Bay, the scoreboard said it was 92 degrees at game time — perhaps 10 degrees more than the actual temperature but a contrast to the cold, snowy winter in the northeast.
Trying to regain the form that made him one of the top hitters before he tore his left Achilles tendon injury during the 2011 playoffs, Howard hit an opposite-field single to left in the second inning and lined a single to right in the fourth.
He’s standing up straighter at the plate and dropping his hands.
“Looked at some old video and stuff,” he said. “Back in ‘06, I was way down and then it looked like I was steadily creeping up over the years.”
Howard lost 15-20 pounds since November, when he started on a diet to eliminate sugars. His listed weight had been 250.
“You have a cheat day or whatever every once in a while,” he said, “but for the most part, just trying to stick with it.”
The Yankees’ Aaron Judge, a 2013 first-round draft pick, hit a tying, three-run homer on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in a four-run ninth off Mario Hollands.
Pirates 8, Blue Jays 7
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Pedro Alvarez hit a three-run shot and Korean rookie Jung Ho Kang connected for his first major league homer, leading Pittsburgh to a win over Toronto in the exhibition opener for both teams.
Alvarez’s drive came in the first inning off Aaron Sanchez after Gregory Polanco singled and Starling Marte reached on an error by new Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson. He added an RBI double in the fifth.
Athletics 9, Giants 4
MESA, Ariz. — World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner was roughed up in his exhibition debut, and Marcus Semien hit a pair of home runs as Oakland opened its new spring training home by beating defending champion San Francisco.
Bumgarner gave up four runs in 1 2-3 innings, allowing Semien’s two-run shot in the first. The tall lefty was tagged for five hits and struck out two.
A’s newcomer Ben Zobrist tripled and doubled and Craig Gentry also had two hits for the A’s. Billy Butler added an RBI sacrifice fly.
Adam Duvall homered and Casey McGehee also drove in a run for the Giants.
Reds 10, Indians 0
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Brandon Phillips, Todd Frazier and Jay Bruce each had one of Cincinnati’s six doubles in a win over Cleveland in the spring opener for both teams.
Phillips doubled in his first at-bat off Cleveland starter Zach McAllister and scored on a single by Devin Mesoraco.
Jason Marquis, who is competing for one of two open spots in the Reds’ starting rotation, struck out three and walked two in two scoreless innings.
Tigers 15, Orioles 2
LAKELAND, Fla. — Yoenis Cespedes hit a grand slam in his first game for Detroit, Ian Kinsler added a three-run homer and the Tigers routed Baltimore in a spring training opener.
Cespedes connected in the fourth inning for an 11-0 lead. The Tigers got the slugger from Boston in an offseason trade.
Coming off a disappointing year, Baltimore starter Ubaldo Jimenez allowed six runs in 1 1-3 innings. He walked two, hit two batters and made a throwing error.
Marlins 7, U. of Miami 1
JUPITER, Fla. — Marlins left-hander Andrew McKirahan needed only 12 pitches to strike out all three batters he faced Tuesday and help beat the University of Miami.
McKirahan, a Rule 5 acquisition from the Cubs, was one of nine pitchers for Miami. They combined on a six-hitter with one walk.
Red Sox win pair
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Clay Buchholz started with one perfect inning and Boston pitchers dominated the rest of the day in sweeping a pair of college teams, beating Northeastern 2-1 and edging Boston College 1-0.
Rick Porcello relieved Buchholz and retired six straight batters as the Red Sox staff combined on a one-hitter in the opener. Wade Miley then threw two innings against BC to start a combined four-hitter.
David Ortiz struck out in both of his at-bats against Northeastern. Newcomer Pablo Sandoval also was 0 for 2 and left fielder Hanley Ramirez got a hit.