March 12, 2026; Lakeland, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws a ball in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Publix Field at Joker Merchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Image Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander gave up back-to-back home runs to Jason Dominguez and JC Escara in the first inning, and the New York Yankees won 4-3 in Lakeland, Florida.
In his second start this spring, Verlander allowed three solo home runs in 3 1/3 innings (61 pitches). The 43-year-old, who returned to Detroit after pitching for nine seasons with the Houston Astros, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants, recorded five strikeouts. He allowed five runs with nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings this spring.
Yankees right-hander Will Warren continued his stellar spring by allowing two hits and two runs with no walks in six innings. He gave up a home run to the Tigers’ Jack McKinstry in the fifth inning, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead.
Detroit tied the game on a Jude Warwick sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth, but won the game with a bases-loaded walk to Yankees minor leaguer Joshua Moylan in the top of the ninth.
Seth Brown also homered off Verlander with one out in the second inning.
Cardinals 3, Mets 1
Nelson Velazquez hit a two-run home run off New York starter Sean Manea in the bottom of the first inning as the St. Louis Blues faced the Mets in Jupiter, Florida.
New Mets infielder Jorge Polanco hit a solo home run off second hitter, off Cardinals starter Michael McGreevey. It was the only run allowed by McGreevy, who gave up four hits and one walk with three strikeouts in five innings.
St. Louis first baseman Alec Burleson added an RBI single in the second inning. Nolan Gorman doubled and tripled the Manaea, but ran aground both times.
Phillies 8, Blue Jays 5, 8 innings.
Philadelphia scored eight runs in the first three innings to win against a pair of Toronto minor league pitchers in Clearwater, Florida.
Phillies’ All-Star shortstop Trea Turner had two runs and two RBIs to right field in the second inning, and Alec Bohm hit a 422-foot solo home run in a four-run triple.
Philadelphia starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo, who signed a five-year contract extension worth $135 million on Tuesday, gave up a first inning home run to Blue Jays backup catcher Tyler Heineman and allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Heinemann reached base three times with two hits and a walk, scoring three runs.
Twins 8, Red Sox 5
As Minnesota defeated Boston in a team game held in Fort Myers, Florida, Lane Doncon hit a three-run triple with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game at 5-5.
After Twins infielder Orlando Arcia hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead to 4-3, the Red Sox took the lead by scoring two runs in the top of the eighth. The lead changed hands four times over the final four innings.
Boston shortstop Trevor Story went 3-for-4 with a run scored and raised his spring average to .400.
Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober, who is attempting to rebound from an injury-plagued 2025 season, continued his slow rise into the regular season, pitching 2 1/3 innings and allowing one run on five hits. Over walked one and struck out two in 53 pitches during his second outing of the spring.
Ryan Jeffers was one of four Twins players with two hits and a run in the first and third innings.
–Field level media
