Blue Jays Beat the Tigers on Smoak’s, Gurriel’s Home Runs; Borucki Solid

Lourdes Gurriel

The Toronto Blue Jays picked up their third win of the Grapefruit League as Ryan Borucki had his best start of the spring and Justin Smoak and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.each hit a home run for a 5-2 win over the Detroit Tigers.

In his longest start yet this spring, Borucki threw three scoreless innings despite struggling with his control at times, walking three. He did strike out four, popping the mitt as high as 94 mph and he allowed two hits.

Danny Barnes allowed a solo home run in the fourth, striking out one and Trent Thornton allowed a run on two hits in two innings. The first hit went to right field and the second went off of Lourdes Gurriel’s glove and moved Daz Cameron to third. Pete Kozma grounded out to Gurriel which brought in Cameron for the Tigers’ second run. Thornton retired the next two batters (including former Blue Jays minor leaguer Dawel Lugo) to finish the inning.

Joe Biagini threw a scoreless seventh, striking out one and Jacob Waguespack allowed just a hit in the eighth with Justin Shafer picking up the save with a scoreless ninth, striking out one and giving up a hit.

Justin Smoak went deep early again, hitting his second home run of the spring, this one a three-run shot, going 1/4 with two runs. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was 1/2 with two RBI on a solo home run and a sacrifice fly. Brandon Drury hit two doubles, going 2/4 and Danny Jansen was 1/3. Billy McKinney walked twice and scored once.

The Blue Jays host the Phillies on Wednesday with Aaron Sanchez on the hill.

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