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Blue Jays Grapefruit Recap: Game 15 vs. Rays

By Patrick W. Allen

Mar 3, 2017; Dunedin, FL, USA; A general view of Florida Auto Exchange Stadium where the Toronto Blue Jays play the New York Yankees. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Dunedin, FL, USA; A general view of Florida Auto Exchange Stadium where the Toronto Blue Jays play the New York Yankees. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Blue Jays fell to the Tampa Bay Rays 8-2 on Sunday, bringing their Spring record to 4-10-1.

There were 6,177 fans in attendance at the Charlotte Sports Park, in Port Charlotte, Florida to watch the two American League East clubs face off in Spring training action.

With Jose Bautista, Marcus Stroman, Dalton Pompey, and Roberto Osuna  off with their respective World Baseball Classic teams, Toronto’s minor leaguers took centre stage.

The Blue Jays fell victim to the long ball on Sunday, with Ryan Borucki, Brett Oberholtzer, Chad Girodo, and Jarrett Grube each serving up home runs that accounted for six of the Rays eight runs.

Making his first start of the spring, Borucki, a 5th round pick in 2012, had two strikeouts and surrendered two runs, only one earned, on two hits in two innings pitched.

LHP Tim Mayza continued his impressive play with a clean third inning, striking out two. He has yet to surrender a run in his five appearances so far this spring.

Dominic Leone and Chris Smith also pitched in the game for Toronto.  

Offensively, the Blue Jays were limited to just five hits in the ballgame.

Their two runs came in a three-hit fifth inning which saw back-to-back doubles by Jonathan Diaz and Dwight Smith Jr., the latter bringing home their only offensive tallies of the game.

First baseman  Rowdy Tellez went 1-2 at the plate with a run scored, and designated hitter Steve Pearce went 1-3.

Other notes

Jonathan Diaz, replaced SS  Lourdes Gourriel to start the bottom of the third inning. As of 4:45 pm EDT, the club has yet to comment on the reasoning for the substitution.

Anthony Alford made an excellent defensive play in the second inning, robbing  Kevin Kiermaier of a home run.

The Rays’ home runs were hit by Jake Bauers, Evan Longoria, and a pair by Casey Gillaspie.

The Blue Jays will face the Boston Red Sox tomorrow at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, with J.A. Happ expected to get the start. The action begins at 1:07 pm EDT.

Lastly, a happy birthday to the longtime voice of the Blue Jays Jerry Howarth, who turned 70 years old today.

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