Cubs Edge Royals, Cardinals Pummel Marlins

Jason Hammel threw four scoreless innings and Anthony Rizzo reached base three times on Tuesday as the Chicago Cubs beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3. Hammel came in with a 10.80 ERA in his previous two outings over five innings, but had good downward action and fastball command against the Royals. The right-hander allowed two hits and struck out three in his longest outing of the spring after he allowed nine hits and walked three in his previous two appearances.

"It's spring training coming together," Hammel said. "As long as you don't get frustrated and beat yourself up the first couple weeks of spring and expect results because you are still somewhat getting into shape, you'll be OK. Things felt like it clicked today."

Royals starter Danny Duffy was nearly as good, other than a tough third inning in which he hit a batter and walked two, including Starlin Castro to force in the first run of the game.

Cardinals 7, Marlins 1

Jhonny Peralta had three hits, including his first homer of spring training, leading the St. Louis Cardinals over a Miami Marlins' split squad 7-1 Tuesday. Peralta, who entered in 1-for-14 slide, homered on a fifth-inning slider from Bryan Morris for a 5-1 lead. He singled in his first two at-bats.

Marco Gonzales, trying to win the fifth spot in the Cardinals' rotation, allowed his first run of spring training. He gave up four hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings, striking out three. The Cardinals' 2014 minor league pitcher of the year threw 41 of his 67 pitches for strikes and also looped an RBI single over first baseman Jeff Baker in a three-run fourth.

White Sox 5, Mariners 5

Hisashi Iwakuma threw four scoreless innings and the Seattle Mariners and Chicago White Sox played to a 5-5 tie Tuesday. Iwakuma, the Mariners' No. 2 starter, allowed five hits while striking out two.

"I'm not 100 percent there yet, but I feel like I'm close to getting there," Iwakuma said through a translator. "I'm in game mode now. It will pick up another notch."

Jeff Samardzija, the White Sox's likely opening day starter with Chris Sale sidelined, allowed two runs and four hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out three. The White Sox, trailing 5-2 in the eighth, scored three to tie it, Trayce Thompson hit a two-run homer off Rafael Perez.

Tuesday, March 17 Scoreboard

Minnesota 10, at Baltimore 9

Atlanta 11, at Boston 3

Washington 6, at Detroit 4

Tampa Bay 5, at Philadelphia 3

Houston 13, at Pittsburgh 7

St. Louis 7, at Miami 1

NY Mets 6, Miami 4

Chicago White Sox 5, Seattle 5

Cincinnati 4, at Cleveland 0

Oakland 13, San Diego 2

Texas 11, LA Dodgers 11

Chicago Cubs 4, Kansas City 3

Milwaukee 6, at San Diego 4

Arizona 10, at San Francisco 0

LA Angels 11, at Colorado 0

Toronto 4, at NY Yankees 2

Wednesday, March 18 Schedule (All Times Central)

Minnesota at Boston, 12:05 p.m.

Washington at Miami, 12:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Toronto, 12:07 p.m.

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

Oakland at Seattle, 3:05 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Cincinnati, 3:05 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at LA Dodgers, 3:05 p.m.

San Diego at Colorado, 3:10 p.m.

NY Yankees at Atlanta, 5:05 p.m.

Detroit at Pittsburgh, 5:05 p.m.

Arizona at Colorado, 9:10 p.m.