Goins snaps out of slump with big day

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Second baseman Ryan Goins broke out of his prolonged slump at the plate for at least one day by going 3-for-4 in Toronto's 11-6 victory over the Phillies on Wednesday afternoon.

Goins had two singles and a triple to go along with a pair of RBIs in his best offensive day this spring. He entered the game hitting just .154 in 39 at-bats, but he saw that average climb to .209.

The Blue Jays had a total of 18 hits on Wednesday afternoon, but after the game it was Goins that manager John Gibbons wanted to spend most of his time talking about.

"The one I'm really excited for is Goins, he had kind of a breakout day and he needed that," Gibbons said. "He hadn't gotten a lot of hits, but he has been hitting a lot of balls hard. But for a young guy that's tough to accept -- he wants to see results, so that was a big day for him."

Goins is expected to receive most of the playing time at second base this season with utility man Maicer Izturis serving in a backup role. The only experience Goins had at the big league level came in 2013, when he hit .254 with a .264 on-base percentage in 34 games.