Wainwright debut heroics help Cardinals defeat host Washington Nationals 6-1

Right-hander Adam Wainwright pitched two perfect innings in his first start of the spring as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the host Washington Nationals 6-1 on Tuesday at West Palm Beach, Fla. The 37-year-old Wainwright was limited to just eight starts last season due to elbow troubles. He is trying to regain the form that saw him win 19 or more games four times during 13 big league seasons.

"The difference today was that I was focused on command and trusting my stuff, and last year I was focused on surviving," Wainwright told reporters. "Making a pitch and trying to make it to the next pitch. My focus today was on pitching instead of on health." Marlins 3, Astros 0

Right-hander Dan Straily struck out three in two perfect innings as Miami blanked visiting Houston at Jupiter, Fla. Houston right-hander Gerrit Cole pitched a perfect inning in his spring debut. Tigers 14, Mets (ss) 4

Harold Castro and Pete Kozma each clubbed three-run homers as visiting Detroit routed New York at Port Fort Lucie, Fla. Rajai Davis went deep for the Mets. Rays (ss) 11, Orioles 5 (8 innings)

Jesus Sanchez hit a go-ahead, three-run homer during a 10-run eighth-inning splurge as Tampa Bay rallied to knock off host Baltimore at Sarasota, Fla. Chris Davis smacked a two-run blast for the Orioles in a game that was stopped due to rain. Braves 4, Mets (ss) 3

William Contreras hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning as Atlanta defeated visiting New York at Kissimmee, Fla. Sebastian Espino hit an inside-the-park homer for the Mets. Twins 6, Pirates 5

Ryan Jeffers delivered the go-ahead pinch-hit, a two-run .single during a four-run fifth-inning uprising as visiting Pittsburgh edged Minnesota at Fort Myers, Fla. Patrick Kivlehan homered for the Twins. Phillies-Yankees cancelled

New York right-hander Masahiro Tanaka's spring debut was washed out by rain as the host Yankees and Philadelphia were unable to play at Tampa, Fla. Red Sox-Blue Jays, cancelled

Right-hander Matt Shoemaker was slated to make his first Toronto appearance before rain prevented the contest between the Blue Jays and visiting Boston at Dunedin, Fla. --Field Level Media