ERIK GONZALEZ

A hit is a hit, even if it’s only spring training.

Rookie Nick Fortes hit a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Miami Marlins beat the New York Mets 3-2.

Mercy, Javier Baez. The Arlington Country Day product turned in a stunning play on the basepaths during a 5-3 win over the Pirates on Thursday afternoon.

Tyler Naquin hit another leadoff home run and the high-scoring Cincinnati Reds kept rolling, backing Luis Castillo to rout the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-4 for their fifth straight win.

The NL Central-leading Cubs were assured a spot in the expanded playoff field when Philadelphia was swept in a doubleheader at Washington. It was Stallings’ third home run of the season and the third game-ending hit of his career. Anthony Rizzo’s two-run homer in the eighth inning had pulled the Cubs into a tie at 2-all. The Pirates took a 2-0 lead on RBI doubles by Erik Gonzalez in the second inning and Adam Frazier in the fifth. Pirates: RHP Trevor Williams (1-8, 6.70) has lost five straight decisions since getting his lone win Aug. 13 at Cincinnati.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)CHICAGO Lucas Giolito of the Chicago White Sox is pitching a no-hitter through seven innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Giolito has struck out 10, walked one and thrown 76 pitches Tuesday night. An All-Star last year, the right-hander retired the first nine Pittsburgh hitters before walking Erik Gonzalez to start the fourth. The Pirates, hitting a collective .229 this season, brought the majors worst record into the matchup.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) reacts with catcher James McCann after closing out a no-hitter in a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, in Chicago. The White Sox won 4-0. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)CHICAGO Lucas Giolito pitched the first no-hitter of the pandemic-delayed major league season, striking out 13 and permitting just one runner in leading the Chicago White Sox over the Pittsurgh Pirates 4-0 Tuesday night. The right-hander threw 101 pitches and made quick work of the Pirates -- Pittsburgh came into the game batting just .229 this season and has the worst record in the majors. Giolito pitched the 19th no-hitter in White Sox history and first since Philip Humber threw a perfect game at Seattle in 2012.

Dayton is among 11 players who received $286,500 in advances that are higher than their prorated pay. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)NEW YORK Grant Dayton will notice one glaring absence this season after he reports to the Atlanta Braves: his twice-a-month salary. He is among 11 major leaguers whose prorated pay for the abbreviated 60-game season amounts to less than the $286,500 advance already received by the 32-year-old left-hander. His prorated salary for the short season will be $242,593, assuming the contagion does not cause more games to be canceled. Peralta has a low salary in 2020 as part of a $15.5 million, five-year contract he agreed to in March.