Cubs Drop Loss to Angels, Will Ferrell Competes, Cardinals Win

Cubs top prospect Kris Bryant homered twice, once with funnyman Will Ferrell in center field for the Angels, and Jorge Soler also connected in Chicago’s 10-9 loss to Los Angeles on Thursday.

Ferrell replaced Mike Trout, who had three hits, in the outfield for the third inning.  The “Anchorman” star had a good view of Bryant’s long drive to left-center. Bryant also homered in the sixth. Ferrell made a nice play in center, cleanly scooping up Welington Castillo’s single and throwing to the cutoff man near second base.

Soler hit his second home run of training camp in the fourth and was greeted by Ferrell, who was coaching third base for the Cubs. Ferrell had changed uniforms between innings, part of his attempt to play for 10 teams in five games Thursday for a TV special.

St. Louis Beats Baltimore

Mark Reynolds hit his first home run of the spring, connecting off Norris as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 Thursday. Reynolds, who signed a one-year, $2 million free agent contract in the offseason, hit a three-run homer in the third inning.

"It feels good to barrel a ball up and see some results from all the work we've been putting in this spring," said Reynolds, who hit a total of 60 homers for the Orioles in 2011-12. "Obviously it helps the confidence a little bit. I hope this one carries over into the coming weeks and into the season."

Tony Cruz doubled and singled for St. Louis, making him 5 for 8 in exhibition play. Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia gave up one run and two hits in four innings. In a three-way competition to become the Cardinals' fifth starter, Garcia struck out five.

Rangers 7, White Sox 3

Texas lost yet another pitcher to injury, with Anthony Ranaudo walking off the mound during the third inning of the Rangers' 7-3 win over a Chicago White Sox split squad on Thursday. Rangers pitchers Yu Darvish, Derek Holland and Tanner Scheppers have been injured this spring. Darvish, the staff ace, could be headed for season-ending elbow surgery. Ranaudo is among the candidates competing for a rotation slot.

"I felt a little bit of a grab on a curveball, so I think I shook my arm a little bit," Ranaudo said. "I was at my pitch limit, so it was just precautionary, let's do the right thing. It's something I've dealt with in the past. I should be OK."

Ranaudo, who gave up all three runs on four hits in 2 1/3 innings, said he threw 90 to 120 feet off a flat surface after exiting.

Thursday, March 12 Scoreboard

Philadelphia 6, at Detroit 5

Minnesota 7, Miami 6

Houston 4, Detroit 3

Boston 5, at Pittsburgh 1

St. Louis 8, Baltimore 2

Tampa Bay 10, Toronto 3

NY Mets 11, Washington 9

Oakland 4, Seattle 3

Kansas City 10, at Cleveland 5

Milwaukee 5, Colorado 3

Texas 7, Chicago White Sox 3

LA Angels 10, Chicago Cubs 9

Cincinnati 12, at Arizona 4

San Francisco 7, at Chicago White Sox 4

NY Yankees 3, Atlanta 2

LA Dodgers 1, at San Diego 0

Friday, March 13 Schedule (All Times Central)

Detroit at Atlanta, 12:05 p.m.

Houston at Washington, 12:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Philadelphia, 12:05 p.m.
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Minnesota at Pittsburgh, 12;05 p.m.

St. Louis at Miami, 12:05 p.m.

Baltimore at Toronto, 12:07 p.m.

Atlanta at NY Mets, 12:10 p.m.

Arizona at Cleveland, 3:05 p.m.

Oakland at Kansas City, 3:05 p.m.

Milwaukee at Seattle, 3:05 p.m.

Cleveland at Chicago Cubs, 3:05 p.m.

Texas at San Francisco, 3:05 p.m.

San Diego at LA Angels, 3:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Colorado, 3:10 p.m.

NY Yankees at Boston, 7:05 p.m.

Oakland at Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at LA Dodgers, 9:05 p.m.