Pillar scores twice in sloppy Blue Jays win

March 27th, 2016

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Tony Sanchez and Jio Mier rapped RBI singles in the top of the eighth inning to lead the Blue Jays to a 7-3 win over the Rays in a sloppy, seven-error game at Charlotte Sports Park on Sunday.
Ryan Webb relieved Rays starter David Carpenter to start the third, and the Blue Jays got busy when Kevin Pillar reached on a fielding error by third baseman Evan Longoria. Pillar moved to second when Ryan Goins reached on a fielding error by shortstop Brad Miller. One out later, Justin Smoak singled to center to score Pillar, giving the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.
Pillar got the Blue Jays started again in the fifth when he singled off Danny Farquhar with one out. He advanced to second on a wild pitch then scored when Goins singled to center to put the Blue Jays up 2-0.

"No, it's Spring Training," Miller said when asked if he was concerned about his fielding. His error in the third was his fourth of the spring. "I think you go out there, and obviously you get your reps. And you're getting your work in and kind of getting it going ... If anything is too up or too down, you get work on what you work on and get ready for the year."
Drew Hutchison started for the Blue Jays. The right-hander, who remains a candidate for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, held the Rays scoreless through four innings before allowing a leadoff walk to Miller to start the bottom of the fifth. With Steven Souza Jr., hitting, Miller took off to steal second. Blue Jays catcher A.J. Jimenez attempted to throw him out, but the throw hit Hutchison in the back of the head.
Hutchison showed no signs of being injured, but the Blue Jays removed him from the game.
"I thought I was throwing the ball really [well]. I thought I had really good movement," Hutchison said. "That's probably the frustrating part of today, is having to come out and not being able to keep going, get deep into the game. I thought I had a good pitch count, thought I could have gone really deep. It's just unfortunate."
Souza greeted the new pitcher, Steve Delabar, with a sacrifice fly to right that cut the lead to 2-1.

Logan Forsythe led off the Rays' sixth, reached on a fielding error by first baseman Rowdy Tellez and advanced to third on Logan Morrison's single to left. Forsythe scored when Cade Gotta slapped a grounder to the right side that Blue Jays second baseman Alexi Casilla flipped wide of the second base bag.
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Casey Gillaspie pinch-ran for Morrison and scored on Corey Dickerson's sacrifice fly to put the Rays up 3-2.
The Blue Jays tied the game when Andrew Bellatti, who had just replaced Xavier Cedeno, issued a bases-loaded walk to Andy Burns in the top of the seventh. It was the Rays' third walk of the inning. The Blue Jays took the lead on Sanchez's single in their three-run eighth.
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"Kind of ugly," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Not that great of a ballgame. ... Hopefully they bounce back. After the off-day [Monday] it's time to dial it up."
Up next for the Blue Jays: Right-hander Marcus Stroman will make his final start before Opening Day when the Blue Jays host the Phillies on Monday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET, and the game will air on an exclusive free audio webcast. Stroman is expected to be folllowed on the mound by right-handers Jesse Chavez and Ryan Tepera and veteran lefty Randy Choate. Toronto rested most of its regulars on Sunday against the Rays, which means Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki likely will return to the lineup vs. Philadelphia.
Up next for the Rays: The Rays are off on Monday with no one scheduled to play on the off-day. Right-hander Matt Andriese will start on Tuesday when the Rays travel to Dunedin, Fla., for a 1:05 p.m. ET contest against the Blue Jays. He will be followed by right-handers Erasmo Ramirez and Steve Geltz and left-hander Enny Romero. Rays Opening Day starter Chris Archer is scheduled to pitch for the Rays in a Minor League game in Fort Myers, Fla., on Tuesday.