Trio of home runs lift Phillies past Blue Jays

Matt Rappa

March 12 2016

Phillies outfielder David Lough batting against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo: Frank Klose/Philliedelphia)

By: Matt Rappa, managing editor

Final: Phillies 8, Blue Jays 5 ❖ Attendance: 8,691

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Thanks to a trio of home runs—coming off the bats of non-roster invitees J.P. Arencibia, David Lough and Nick Williams—the Philadelphia Phillies (9-3-2) pulled away with an 8-5 victory against knuckleballer R.A Dickey and the Toronto Blue Jays (9-2-1) Saturday afternoon at Bright House Field.

The Phillies are now 7-0-1 in their last eight games, dating back to Sunday, March 6, home against the New York Yankees.

WP: Andrew Bailey (1-0, 0.00 ERA) ❖ LP: R.A. Dickey (1-1, 3.86 ERA)

Hub: Game Summary ❖ Starting Pitchers ❖ At the Plate ❖ Bullpen ❖ What's Next

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Game Summary

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
TOR	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	5	7	0
PHI	0	0	2	0	1	2	0	3	X	8	14	2

Toronto jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. First baseman Chris Colabello began the frame with his first triple of the spring, followed by a RBI-single by left fielder Michael Saunders to center field. Three batters later, with two runners in scoring position and one out, catcher Josh Thole grounded out to short to score Saunders from third—his first run-batted-in in seven Grapefruit League games.

The Phillies answered back in the bottom of the third. Two batters after catcher Carlos Ruiz began the inning with a single, non-roster invitee right fielder David Lough came through with a game-tying, two-run home run to right field.

Phillies' starter Vincent Velasquez lasted a spring-high four innings this afternoon, allowing just two runs on four hits and two walks against a good portion of the Blue Jays' expected Opening Day lineup. The right-hander induced four groundouts and three flyouts against Blue Jays' batters, whom entering the afternoon ranked 10th throughout Major League Baseball in spring training extra-base hits.

The game would remain evened at two heading into the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Lough singled on a ground ball to second baseman Ryan Goins, thus ending the afternoon for Blue Jays' starter R.A. Dickey. Facing right-hander Ryan Tepera, Lough advanced to second and third on a successful stolen base move and a fly out to center field by shortstop Freddy Galvis, respectively. Center fielder Odubel Herrera then delivered with a game-winning RBI-single to left field, giving the Phillies a 3-2 advantage.

Facing his former team in the bottom of the sixth against 14-year veteran Brad Penny, non-roster invitee catcher J.P. Arencibia put up two insurance runs with a two-run blast to left field.

Toronto came within one run in the top of the eighth as shortstop Jio Mier hit a two-run blast to left field. The next half-inning, however, top prospect Nick Williams hit his first home run of the spring, a three-run blast to right field against former Phillie Roberto Hernandez, to give his team a late, 8-4 lead.

Facing right-hander Yoervis Media in the ninth, Toronto pulled within three runs on a sacrifice-fly RBI by pinch-hitter Danny Jansen, however he shut the door to pick up the Phillies' ninth victory of the spring.

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Starting Pitchers