Blue Jays Grapefruit League Recap: Game 15 vs. Phillies

The Blue Jays faced off against the Phillies on Saturday in a rematch of Thursday’s game in Grapefruit League action. The Phillies prevailed 8-2, despite the Blue Jays sending Marco Estrada and Aaron Sanchez to the hill.

Aaron Sanchez‘s Grapefruit League debut wasn’t enough to push the Blue Jays to victory on Saturday, as they lost the afternoon affair by a score of 8-2. Marco Estrada got the start for the Blue Jays against Vince Velasquez of the Phillies, who overcame a shaky start to post a decent outing, allowing 1 run over 3.1 innings.

In a game played at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, Estrada was cruising through his first couple innings, allowing just a single walk to the first eight hitters he saw. He eventually allowed back to back doubles before being lifted from the game.

The Blue Jays actually took a 1-0 lead after Justin Smoak  drove in Kevin Pillar  to open the scoring. After giving up the opening run, Velasquez mostly dominated the Jays’ lineup, retiring 9 out of the next 11 batters.

More from Jays Journal

• Matt Chapman has been exactly what the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: The goalposts are moving in the right direction
• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King

The only other Blue Jays run came on an RBI single by Rowdy Tellez, who continues to impress the Blue Jays brass this Spring. Pillar was 2-2 and a walk, as he continues to look locked in at the plate. Smoak also managed to record a hit, finishing 1-2 with the RBI, and  Troy Tulowitzki finished 0-3 on the day as well, and is still in search of his first hit this Spring.

Estrada allowed 2 runs on the day, as did Aaron Sanchez, Lucas Harrell and J.P. Howell, totalling 8 for the Phillies’ offence. Sanchez allowed 3 hits and a walk in 1.2 innings, and also struck out a batter. While the numbers don’t look great on paper, he looked to be in good form for his first appearance in a live game.

Howell walked 2 batters in his second rough appearance of Grapefruit action, adding to the concern of Blue Jays fans regarding the left-handed portion of the bullpen. Harrell also gave up 3 doubles while recording just 2 outs, and allowed 2 earned runs.

The Blue Jays will draw the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday and will send 22 year old, Ryan Borucki to the mound for the start. The game will get underway at 1:05pm EST, at Charlotte Sports Park.

Next: Blue Jays: Risk Management, and the Art of Delay