Jays Jots: Spring Training Game 2

February 24, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Brett Cecil (27) throws a pitch in the third inning against the New York Yankees during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsAdmittedly, I am a bit late at getting around to the recaps of yesterday’s game(s), but in the spirit of keeping things consistent, I just could not bring myself to skip them either.

In game 2 of the young spring schedule, the Blue Jays used a balanced pitching attack to blank the New York Yankees 2-0 in a split squad match-up. Here are a few of the notes and observations from that game:

– J.A. Happ got the start 3 hits and a strike-out over 2 innings of work. He plunked Curtis Granderson in the first inning in the process, an (un)fortunate mistake that will cost Granderson the first 10 weeks of the regular season.

– Happ was followed by Brett Cecil, presumably to get a look at both pitchers back-to-back to determine which is worthy of the roster spot (Happ has options, Cecil does not). Cecil looked really good, firing two innings while giving up 3 hits and striking out two. He also worked out of a small jam, with a man on third and one out.

– Happ and Cecil were followed by Justin Germano, Claudio Vargas, and Rich Thompson. Germano and Vargas each went two innings.

– Anthony Gose looked good again, tripling in the third and scoring the game’s first run. He was also badly frozen on a pair of curveballs for two strike-outs on the afternoon.

– Lance Zawadzki continues to try and get his name out there by following up his grandslam on Saturday with a 2 for 3 day and was the only Blue Jay with multiple hits.

– Melky Cabrera made his spring debut, but struggled at the plate, flying out twice and striking out once for an 0 for 3 day. He did make a nice diving catch on a ball hit by Cano in the first.

All and all, another good game for the Blue Jays. You don’t win the division in the spring, but it was worth noting that the Yankees trotted out a good number of their regulars to start the game.