Blue Jays drop slugfest to Phillies in Clearwater

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was one of four Toronto Blue Jays to go deep in the club’s 13-6 loss to the Philadelphia

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

The balls were flying out of Spectrum Field in Clearwater on Thursday as the Blue Jays and Phillies combined to hit 10 home runs (including two by Bryce Harper) with the Blue Jays coming up short and losing 13-6 to the Phils.

The Jays started the top of the first inning with a solo shot by Randal Grichuk and that was followed by a two-run home run by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the third, giving the Jays three runs, but by that point they were already down 5-3. Rowdy Tellez hit his fifth home run of the spring in the seventh inning, a two-run shot while Billy McKinney capped the Jays' scoring with a solo shot in the eighth. The Blue Jays had hits from Brandon Drury (1/3), Tellez (1/2), Grichuk (1/3), Chad Spanberger (1/2), Justin Smoak (1/2, BB), Gurriel (2/2, 2 RBI), McKinney (1/4) and Richard Urena (1/2)

On the mound, things were a bit of a mess for the Blue Jays, who were hoping that someone would step up to help them make some decision on who to take north as John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) and Ryan Tepera are starting the season with elbow issues. Sam Gaviglio was hammered for eight runs and three home runs in 3 1/3 innings despite walking only one and striking out five. Danny Barnes, on to relieve for 2/3 of an inning, gave up three runs of his own, allowing a home run. Thomas Pannone allowed two solo shots and they were the only two hits he gave up in three innings, striking out three without any walk. Only newly-acquired Jason Adam didn't allow a home run giving up a hit and striking out two in the eighth.

The Blue Jays play the Orioles on Friday in Dunedin with Aaron Sanchez on the mound for the Jays.

Notes: Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, Ont.) was scratched from the game after hitting his head on some bats in his locker. He's being evaluated for symptoms of a concussion after having had a couple of serious ones previously.

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