Spring training roundup: Scott Kazmir blanks Royals, Matt Garza implodes (again)

The newcomer to the Athletics' rotation, Scott Kazmir continued his spring domination on Wednesday, firing off four scoreless innings.

Kazmir, who inked a two-year, $22 million deal with Oakland in the offseason has yet to allow a run over two starts in spring training. He held the Royals to one hit over his four frames striking out three and walking one. The lefty is was locked in a duel with young fireballer Yordano Ventura who went four ⅓ innings, striking out six and walking none. Ventura did allow a run but was taken off the hook when Sean Doolittle gave up two home runs en route to three earned runs allowed in a single inning.

Mike Moustakas continued his hot start with a three-hit game, including a home run and is now batting .500 through 11 Cactus League games. Salvador Perez is just shy of the .500 mark himself, going 10 for 21 thus far, and he added a home run in this game, leading the Royals to a 3-1 win.

Spring training is good for a lot of things. Not only are the players working their way into shape but so too are the cliches. "The numbers don't matter" and "I'm just working on some things." So on and so forth. There is a tipping point though and it's possible that point arrived on Wednesday for Matt Garza as the struggling starter threw 1⅔ innings, giving up 10 runs (six earned) on nine hits, with a walk and a strikeout against an Angels team he reportedly spurned in the offseason. A bright spot for Milwaukee, Rickie Weeks continued his pleasant start to the year, going 1-2 and raising his batting average to .353 as he battles for the second base job.

One of the Angels winter rotation upgrades, Hector Santiago, outpaced Garza in this one, tossing 4⅓ innings of five-hit ball, giving up two earned runs in the process. He fanned six batters while limiting the Brewers to one free pass in the 12-2 win.

Alex Wood allowed only an unearned run over four innings as a split-squad Braves team bested a split-squad Nationals team. More importantly, he didn't leave the mound in pain, which is good because there's only so many Ervin Santanas laying around. Wood struck out two and walked one in the effort and received a Freddie Freeman home run in support as the Braves won 3-2.

Phillies 6, Orioles 5

Pirates 8, Minnesota 4

Rays 5, Jays 4

Braves (ss) 3, Marlins 1

Cardinals 6, Mets 4

Tigers 7, Yankees 7

Nationals (ss) 9, Astros 10

Indians 12, Padres 7

Angels (ss) 12, Rangers 1

Diamondbacks 9, Dodgers 2

White Sox 3, Giants 4

Reds 2, Rockies 3