Shoemaker looks strong in Jays' loss to Braves

Matt Shoemaker allowed just three hits in five innings in his final Grapefruit League start for the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday. Photo: Jay Blue

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

Matt Shoemaker had another solid start as the Grapefruit League is in its final week but the Blue Jays couldn't keep the Atlanta Braves from beating them 8-7 on Wednesday.

Shoemaker went five innings, giving up three runs in total but two of those were left on for Elvis Luciano in the sixth inning after he started with a hit batter and a single. Shoemaker allowed just three hits overall, walked two and hit one, giving up a home run while striking out seven.

Luciano came in with the two runners on and gave up a single and two walks, bringing in two runs that were charged to Shoemaker before he left the game for Javy Guerra. Guerra got a force out that brought in the first run charged to Luciano and then gave up a single that brought a second of Luciano's runs. A force out brought in the third run charged to Luciano and the Guerra struck out Drew Lugbauer to finish the inning without any runs charged to him.

Sean Reid-Foley followed, giving up two runs on four hits over two innings and David Paulino struck out the side in the ninth.

Teoscar Hernandez continues to look like a world beater, walking twice and hitting a home run to drive in two runs in the game. Kevin Pillar was also 1/2 with a home run, driving in three. Eric Sogard hit his fifth double of the spring, going 1/1 with a walk and Brandon Drury was 1/4 with an RBI. Santiago Epinal (1/1, 2R and Kendrys Morales (1/4, R) each added a hit.

The Blue Jays play the Phillies on Thursday with Sam Gaviglio taking the hill.

Notes: Ryan Borucki, Ken Giles, and Tim Mayza and Ryan Tepera were scheduled to throw in the minor league games today, but Shi Davidi reported that Tepera and John Axford (Port Dover, Ont.) were being checked out after reporting elbow pain.

In other injury news, Jonathan Davis will be out of action for 2-4 weeks after being diagnosed with an ankle sprain.

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