Tulo, Donaldson hit first spring home runs

March 29th, 2017

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Powered by four home runs, the Blue Jays topped the Phillies, 10-4, on Tuesday night at Spectrum Field.
Trailing 2-0 after the first inning, and Melvin Upton Jr. each homered during Toronto's five-run second inning. Josh Donaldson recorded his first hits of the spring with a double in the fourth and a homer the next inning. In the eighth, Mike Ohlman added a two-run shot.

Phillies starter 's spring struggles continued, as he lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and raising his Spring Training ERA to 8.38. More >
knocked in three of the Phillies' four runs with an RBI triple in the first and a two-run double in the third. It was the sixth consecutive game the Phillies' offense registered at least nine hits.
"It's a good time to get going with the bats," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "We had that lull in the middle of Spring Training where we weren't swinging the bats very well at all, but now we are, and it's a good sign going into the season."
Toronto's Opening Day starter, , allowed four runs on seven hits over four innings, striking out five and walking two. Estrada's nine combined hits and walks were as many as he had allowed over his previous 13 innings this spring.
"[Catcher ] knows that I wanted to work on changeups, and that's what he called," Estrada said. "We did that a lot. I'm looking for swings. When I get guys out in front, even if they're fouling them off, they're ending up on a knee. It's exactly what I want to see."
Blue Jays up next: Left-hander J.A. Happ (2-0, 1.59 ERA) will make his final start of the spring when the Blue Jays host the Yankees on Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. ET. This will be Toronto's final spring game in Florida, as it will travel to Montreal the following day in advance of this weekend's exhibition series vs. the Pirates. Happ has allowed two earned runs over 11 1/3 innings during the Grapefruit League season. Toronto closer is expected to make an appearance out of the bullpen, as he continues to work his way back from a minor neck/upper-back injury.
Phillies up next: The Phillies will play their final split-squad games of the spring on Wednesday, traveling to Bradenton, Fla., to face the Pirates and to Lakewood, Fla., to face the Tigers. Philadelphia will face each team's respective Opening Day starter -- Pittsburgh's and Detroit's . A pair of relievers battling for the final two bullpen spots will get the ball for the Phillies in each game -- right-hander (0-1, 5.19 ERA) will face the Tigers and left-hander (1-0, 3.60 ERA) takes on the Pirates.
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