Blue Jays defeat Braves in first game at renovated spring stadium

Cavan Biggio had a double, a stolen base and an RBI to help the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-3 win against the Atlanta Braves on Monday afternoon in their first Grapefruit League game at their newly renovated TD Stadium in Dunedin, Fla. Photo: Amanda Fewer, File Photo

February 24, 2020

By Lukas Weese

Canadian Baseball Network

Cavan Biggio had a double, a stolen base and an RBI to help the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-3 win against the Atlanta Braves on Monday afternoon in their first Grapefruit League game at their newly renovated TD Stadium in Dunedin, Fla.

The Blue Jays second baseman doubled to right field to bring home Bo Bichette for his team’s first run. Biggio would score on Randal Grichuk’s RBI double in the same frame.

Bichette, Grichuk and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) also scored runs for the Blue Jays (2-0-1).

Dansby Swanson, Johan Camargo, and Charlie Culberson responded with runs for the Braves (1-2).

Blue Jays right-hander Shun Yamaguchi had a disappointing start, lasting just 2/3 of an inning, giving up three earned runs and three hits.

Drew Waters started the scoring for the Braves in the top of the first inning, with a two-run single to left field that scored Swanson and Camargo. Atlanta right fielder Cristian Pache extended the lead to 3-0 with a single to centre field that brought home Culberson.

The Blue Jays responded in the bottom of the first with three runs of their own off Braves’ left-hander Max Fried. Following RBI doubles by Biggio and Grichuk, the Blue Jays tied the game when catcher Danny Jansen was issued a bases-loaded walk that scored Guerrero Jr.

With Ian Anderson on in relief for the Braves in the bottom of the third inning, Grichuk scored the go-ahead run on a balk with Jansen up to bat. The Blue Jays’ bullpen then held the Braves off the scoreboard for the rest of the contest.

Closer Ken Giles was the winning pitcher for the Blue Jays. He retired all three batters he faced in the third inning, with two ground outs and a strikeout. Minor league reliever Bryan Baker earned the save.

The Blue Jays outhit the Braves eight to six in Monday’s contest.

Paid attendance at the unveiling of TD Ballpark was 6,335. This is the largest crowd ever for a Blue Jays spring training baseball game in Dunedin.

The Blue Jays will have split squads compete in two games on Tuesday, one against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater and the other against the Yankees in Dunedin.