Arencibia backs Buehrle's strong pitching performance
PHILADELPHIA -- If nothing else, Mark Buehrle and Cliff Lee look prepared for the regular season.
In the first of two games at Citizens Bank Park in the On-Deck Series, the two starters set the tone in a fast-paced contest, in which the Blue Jays came out on top, 1-0, against the Phillies on Friday. Neither team hit particularly well, a byproduct of good pitching and chilly conditions.
Blue Jays starter Buehrle worked five strong innings in which he allowed just a pair of hits and struck out five to get the win in his final game of Spring Training.
"I wanted to pitch in [this type of weather]," Buehrle said. "I wanted to get out here because we will be playing in cold weather. I needed a start under the lights, in the cold against a big league team and this was it. I worked and felt great.
"I told [the coaching staff] if it counted today, I could have gone out there for another two innings at least."
For the Phillies, Lee looked just as strong in four innings of work in which he allowed just one hit and struck out five.
"It felt good," said Lee, who will get his first start of the regular season Thursday in Atlanta. "It's time to get ready for the real games. Physically, I feel good and it's just about executing pitches, and today I was able to do that and hopefully I can carry that into the first game and the rest of the season."
Toronto catcher J.P. Arencibia's fifth-inning home run proved to be more than enough to secure a win.
Arencibia hit the first offering from reliever Phillippe Aumont to get the all-important first run. Aumont, who looks to be a key component to the Phillies' needed improvement in the bullpen, settled down and finished the inning without further damage.
The Phillies will open the regular season in Atlanta against their National League East rival, the Braves, on Monday at 7:10 p.m. ET, and the Blue Jays will play host to the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday at 7:07 p.m. ET.
Up next: The Blue Jays will send Josh Johnson to the mound on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies in the second of the two-game On-Deck Series. Johnson, one of several key additions to the roster this past offseason, is 4-0 in Spring Training with a 1.13 ERA. The game can be seen for free on MLB.TV.