Soler's HR Leads Cubs to Win, Tigers Edge Cardinals

Jorge Soler hit a two-run homer off Archie Bradley, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 15-4 at spring training on Thursday night.

Soler capped Chicago's five-run first with a drive to right-center for his second spring homer. He also had a run-scoring double in the third.

Chicago right-hander Jason Hammel struck out six while pitching four innings of one-run ball. He allowed five hits and walked none.

"There were a lot of first-pitch hacks on heaters and they were seeing heaters," Hammel said. "I made the adjustment after the second inning and started throwing off-speed early and it worked out pretty well."

Bradley was charged with six runs in 2 1/3 innings.

"Obviously there is a lot to learn from this game," Bradley said. "I'm not overly upset. I'm not happy with it, nor pleased. There's things to learn and things to improve on. I'm positive and confident. I just have to bounce back."

Manager Chip Hale didn't sound too concerned.

"The velocity was good," he said. "Maybe got too predictable and they are good hitters. They made him pay. Not the greatest outing but the ball is still coming out of his hand good."

Tigers 5, Cardinals 4

Miguel Cabrera hit his third homer of the spring and Mike Pelfrey pitched five scoreless innings for the second straight time to lead the Detroit Tigers past the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Thursday.

JaCoby Jones and Nate Schierholtz also homered for the Tigers.

Pelfrey struck out three and allowed three hits in his fourth start of the spring. He lowered his ERA to 1.17.

"I feel good," said Pelfrey, who came to Detroit as a free agent after making 30 starts with Minnesota last season. "My goal was to come down here and build arm strength and endurance, but I am really not paying attention to the (shutout) streak. I just want to make the rotation."

The Tigers are set at the top of the rotation with Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez and newcomer Jordan Zimmerman. The last two spots could go many ways, but Pelfrey and Daniel Norris are considered the leading candidates. Matt Boyd and Shane Greene, both established major league starters, are also in the mix.

Thursday, March 17 Scoreboard
    
Boston 9, Baltimore 5            
    
Detroit 5, St. Louis 4
            
Houston 5, Atlanta 3            
    
Houston 7, Toronto 5            
    
Washington 9, Atlanta 7
        
Tampa Bay 6, Philadelphia 1
            
New York Yankees 7, Pittsburgh 2
            
New York Mets 6, Miami 5

Seattle 11, Oakland 11

Cincinnati 8, Cleveland 6

Kansas City 5, Los Angeles Dodgerse 1

Los Angeles Angels 4, Colorado 4

Chicago Cubs 15, Arizona 4

Baltimore 4, Minnesota 1

Milwaukee 5, Texas 2

San Francisco 8, San Diego 4        

Friday, March 18 Schedule (All Times Central)

Minnesota at Boston, 11:05 a.m.

Miami at Atlanta, 11:05 a.m.

Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 11:05 a.m.

Detroit at St. Louis, 11:05 a.m.

Boston at Tampa Bay, 11:05 a.m.

Houston at Toronto, 11:07 a.m.

Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox, 2:05 p.m.

Oakland at Cleveland, 2:05 p.m.

Los Angeles Angels (ss) at Kansas City, 2:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Milwaukee, 2:05 p.m.

Colorado at Los Angeles Angels (ss), 2:10 p.m.

Texas at Seattle, 2:10 p.m.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona, 2:10 p.m.

Washington at New York Mets, 4:10 p.m.

Baltimore at New York Yankees, 4:35 p.m.

Kansas City at Texas, 6 p.m.

San Diego at San Francisco, 8:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 19 Schedule (All Times Central)

St. Louis at Boston, 11:05 a.m.

Atlanta at New York Yankees, 11:05 a.m.

New York Mets at Washington, 11:05 a.m.

Minnesota at Pittsburgh, 11:05 a.m.

Detroit at Miami, 11:05 a.m.

Baltimore at Tampa Bay, 11:05 a.m.

Philadelphia at Toronto, 11:07 a.m.

Kansas City at Texas, 1 p.m.

Los Angeles at Chicago White Sox, 2:05 p.m.

Seattle at Kansas City, 2:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Oakland (ss), 2:05 p.m.

Oakland (ss) at San Francisco, 2:05 p.m.

Milwaukee at Los Angeles Angels, 2:10 p.m.

Colorado at San Diego, 2:10 p.m.

Texas at Arizona, 2:10 p.m.

Chicago Cubs at Cleveland, 8:05 p.m.

Arizona at Seattle, 8:10 p.m.

Sunday, March 20 Schedule (All Times Central)

Tampa Bay at Baltimore, 11:05 a.m.

Washington at Detroit, 11:05 a.m.

New York Yankees at Minnesota, 11:05 a.m.

Detroit at Atlanta, 11:05 a.m.

Houston at Philadelphia, 11:05 a.m.

Miami at St. Louis, 11:05 a.m.

Pittsburgh at Toronto, 11:07 a.m.

Boston at New York, 11:10 a.m.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Milwaukee, 2:05 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Oakland, 2:05 p.m.

Los Angeles Angels at Texas, 2:05 p.m.

Kansas City at Chicago Cubs, 2:05 p.m.

Arizona at Cincinnati, 2:05 p.m.

San Diego at Los Angeles, 2:05 p.m.

Cleveland at Seattle, 2:10 p.m.

San Francisco at Colorado, 2:10 p.m.