Jeff Samardzija continued his steady progress toward regular-season form on Sunday as the Giants fell to the Dodgers, 5-2, in a Cactus League exhibition. Samardzija struck out five and walked none in three innings, obscuring the one run and five hits he allowed. The right-hander asserted himself in the first inning by striking out the side. Samardzija quickly established command of his fastball, which, he said, enabled him to work on secondary pitches such as his split-finger fastball and slider.

As Spring Training ramps up, the list of the 10 oldest players on 40-man rosters includes six who are 40 years or older — an eclectic group with All-Star credentials and some substantial accomplishments.

To his fellow Giants catchers, Buster Posey’s Major League skills have an Ivy League quality to them. Whether it’s by example or with occasional words of wisdom, Posey furthers the continuing education of San Francisco’s receivers. Posey’s curriculum vitae includes the National League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards, three NL All-Star team selections and two NL Silver Slugger trophies. That lends weight to Posey’s words and deeds, as if he were a tenured professor.

Dodgers infielder Chase Utley would not confirm a report that he won’t have to serve a two-game suspension for a slide in last year’s National League Division Series.

The Twins got their first glimpse of Byung Ho Park’s power on Sunday, as the Korean slugger crushed a grand slam in the first inning off Rays right-hander Jake Odorizzi at Charlotte Sports Park.

Hanley Ramirez went 2-for-2 and stole a base to help lead the Red Sox to an 8-5 victory over the Orioles on Sunday at JetBlue Park.

Dodgers outfielder Carl Crawford said he’s been told he’ll open the season backing up Andre Ethier in left field, and he understands it. “They told me there will be a lot of at-bats for me, but ‘Dre starts, and he’s earned it,” said Crawford, who went 2-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs in Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Giants.

Resistance is futile.

In relief of starter Deck McGuire on Sunday, Trevor Rosenthal fought early command troubles. He hit Chris Heisey to open the third inning and later issued a walk to Reed Johnson. In between, Rosenthal took a line drive off his right calf, setting up a mess on the basepath that would lead to two runs in Washington’s 5-2 win.

Manager Terry Collins said Sunday that the Mets do not plan to use David Wright at all this week, as he continues to progress slowly following a quiet winter.

Members of the Washington media were wondering why manager Dusty Baker was 20 minutes late for his pregame session on Sunday before his Nationals defeated Cardinals, 5-2, at Roger Dean Stadium. There was reason for Baker’s tardiness. He spent nearly a half hour with his good buddy, NFL Hall of Famer Joe Namath. Their friendship goes back to the early 1970s when Baker was with the Braves.

Right-hander Kris Medlen will get his first start of the spring for the Royals on Monday in Mesa against the Cubs. And Medlen doesn’t have to be reminded of his last Spring Training start.

It didn’t matter if they knew Shannon Forde or not, if they had worked hand-in-hand with her over the years or never even met her. A few minutes before the first pitch of the Mets’ 7-5 win on Sunday, they all spilled out of the clubhouse regardless, as the Mets paid tribute to their late, beloved media relations director with a moment of silence at Tradition Field.

Even at a point in spring when pitchers tend to have a decided advantage, it hasn’t taken long for the Mets’ bats to warm. Yoenis Cespedes drove home his first Grapefruit League run on Sunday, Travis Taijeron singled in two more and the Mets held off the Braves, 7-5, at Tradition Field.

Behind RBIs from four different players in their starting lineup, the Nationals topped the Cardinals, 5-2, at Roger Dean Stadium on Sunday in the first of five spring meetings between the two clubs.

Two-run homers by Tyler White and Teoscar Hernandez off Kelvin Marte in the eighth inning powered a Houston Astros split squad to an 11-8 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon before 6,304 at McKechnie Field.

Korean slugger Byung Ho Park connected on a grand slam in the first inning to lead the Twins to a 5-4 win over the Rays on Sunday at Charlotte Sports Park.