Blue Jays lose 10-5 to Brewers in first game in Montreal

Sam Gaviglio started and allowed one unearned run in two innings for the Toronto Blue Jays’ in the club’s 10-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in the first of two exhibition games to be played at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. Photo: Jay Blue (file photo)

March 26, 2019

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

The Blue Jays opened their exhibition series in Montreal, facing former Blue Jay Eric Thames and Milwaukee Brewers, with a 10-5 loss on Monday.

For the Blue Jays, the first five innings or so were about the search for pitching. With so many injuries, the Blue Jays are bereft of solid pitchers for the bullpen and Monday was likely a final audition for several players against a potent Brewers lineup.

Sam Gaviglio impressed in the first two innings, giving up two hits and an unearned run but striking out four. Elvis Luciano started the third, hitting Lorenzo Cain but striking out 2018 NL MVP Christian Yelich and he got Jesus Aguilar to fly out for a second out.

Tim Mayza came on and struck out Travis Shaw to end the third but gave up a double to Mike Moustakas and a home run to Yasmani Grandal before striking out Thames to get a second out. Mayza was pulled for Jason Adam who gave up a single to Orlando Arcia (who was caught stealing) and got a fly out by Ben Gamel. Adam, who has been dominant against mostly minor leaguers in spring training since being acquired from the Royals, struggled against the Brewers starting the fifth inning. He gave up two singles and a home run to Travis Shaw (around a strikeout of Christian Yelich) before making way for Joe Biagini.

Biagini got two outs (around a Yasmani Grandal double) and Corey Copping came on to start the sixth and got a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout. Ty Tice, who hasn't played above Advanced-A ball yet got a 1-2-3 seventh, striking out one while fireballer Jackson McClelland got into trouble in the eighth, giving up two singles, a double and two walks before Zach Jackson came on to get a sac fly, a walk and a ground out to finish the inning. McClelland was charged with four runs on three hits and two walks with just one out in the game. Ken Giles finished it getting a pop out, a lineout and a ground out.

On offence, the Blue Jays weren't exactly fearsome, getting three of their five runs on ground outs. Danny Jansen was 1/2 with an RBI single while Freddy Galvis was 1/1 with a walk and an RBI single. Bo Bichette impressed in the field and was 1/2 with two runs and Kendrys Morales was 1/2 with a walk and a run. Richard Urena was 1/1 coming into the game after Lourdes Gurriel and Billy McKinney was 2/3 while Eric Sogard was 1/2. Joshua Palacios, Teoscar Hernandez and Kevin Pillar each picked up an RBI on a groundout.

The Blue Jays conclude their exhibition schedule against the Brewers with Thomas Pannone starting on Tuesday.

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