March 24, 2019

By Jay Blue

Blue Jays from Away

In their final tune up for the season in Florida (before the two exhibition games in Montreal, that is), the Blue Jays' pitching staff took a beating as they surrendered 18 runs in an 18-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

With Ryan Borucki questionable to start the season, Sean Reid-Foley didn't make himself a no-brainer to start the season in his place after giving up five runs on four hits and three walks in two innings, striking out three and seeing his Grapefruit League ERA bloat to 8.40. Justin Shafer followed and struck out three but a home run gave him a two-run blemish for his two innings of work. Bud Norris, working out the kinks, gave up three hits and three runs (including a two-run home run) in the sixth while Dusty Isaacs had a disastrous outing, winding up charged with seven runs (six earned) in 1/3 of an inning, giving up a grand slam among four hits with two walks. Andrew Case (Saint John, N.B.) relieved him with the bases empty and, after getting the second out of the inning, gave up two singles and a double, allowing the Tigers to score their final (18th) run of the game. He got a strikeout to end the sixth and needed just four batters to get out of the seventh. William Ouellette finished it off, facing the minimum in the eighth and striking out one.

Randal Grichuk had a solid tuneup, going 1/2 with a two-run home run and a walk while Roemon Fields was 2/3 with a double, a walk and a run. Also with two hits were Kevin Smith (2/5, R) and Josh Palacios (2/5, 3B). Luke Maile drove in a pair, going 1/3 with two RBI and Cavan Biggio was 1/2 with a solo home run in the ninth. Eric Sogard was 1/3 with an RBI while Richard Urena and Santiago Espinal each had a hit in the second-base role.

The Blue Jays now close up camp and travel north to Montreal where the play two games against the Brewers with Sam Gaviglio started the first one on Monday at 7:05 p.m. E.T.

Notes: Jordan Romano is back in the Jays' system as he has been returned by the Texas Rangers. Romano could be another pitcher looking to crack the roster but, like several others, will need to have a spot found for him on the 40-man roster.

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The 2019 Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Handbook is available now! Visit the Handbook page for more information!