We had a shootout in the early game. The Jays jumped out 2-0 in the second. Detroit tied it up in the fourth, but Toronto piled on eight runs in the bottom half to blow the game open. Detroit got four back in the top of the fifth and one more in the eighth, but the Jays’ lead was insurmountable.
- Chris Bassitt had a good game, striking out two against just one hit in 2.2 innings.
- Yariel Rodriguez didn’t. He made it just 1.2 innings, allowing 4 runs on two hits and two walks.
- Jeff Hoffman had a good spring debut, striking out one in a clean inning, although he did hit a batter.
- Vlad powered the offence. He launched a home run deep to centre in his first at bat, and added on a pair of singles and two more RBI later on.
- Daultn Varsho went deep in his first PA of the spring.
- George Springer and Nathan Lukes each contributed a double.
- Anders Tolhurst did a really nice job picking up the last three innings. He struck out six while allowing one run on two hits. A 2019 23rd round pick, Tolhurst has put up decent numbers through AA. He hasn’t really been a significant prospect, but he looked good today and might play himself into a bullpen depth role if he keeps performing like that.
All the bats got left in Dunedin, unfortunately. The pitching depth wasn’t great, either, so the night game wasn’t much of a contest.
- Jake Bloss had a rough first inning, giving up a pair of solo home runs and a single. He tightened up in the second, setting the Yankees down in order.
- Ryan Jennings followed and worked two scoreless innings. He conceded just a double and a walk while striking out two.
- Hayden Juenger gave up a solo home run in his one inning of work
- Amir Garrett had a rough debut, giving up three runs on three hits in only 0.2 innings.
- Luis Quinones and Paxton Schultz did decent mop up work, scattering three hits and a walk across 2.1 innings.
- The offence got on the board in the third, on a pair of doubles by Joey Loperfido and Will Wagner.
- A RileyTirotta walk, an Adrian Pinto fielder’s choice with a throwing error, a ground out by Devonte Brown and a Matt Whatley single added up to two more runs in the top of the eighth.
- Wagner added another single, the only Blue Jay to reach twice. Arjun Nimmala doubled for the only other extra base hit. It wasn’t a strong showing.
They’re in North Port tomorrow to play the Braves. It’ll be a bullpen day for the Jays (aren’t they all this time of year, really?), but neither team has announced a starter. First pitch goes at 1:05pm ET.