Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Riley Tirotta hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated Canada’s national baseball team 10-7 in an exhibition game Tuesday afternoon at their spring training site in Dunedin, Fla.
Tirotta’s homer came after Canada came back to tie the game after giving up seven runs over the first two innings.
It was the first of Canada’s two games against Major League Baseball opposition as it prepares for the World Baseball Classic.
Jesus Sanchez drove in three runs and Kevin Gausman pitched two scoreless innings to stake the Blue Jays to an early lead.
Canada started to chip away at the deficit once it started getting deep into the Jays’ bullpen. The Canadians tied the game with a four-run eighth inning led by a solo home run from Jacob Robson.
Jack Cushing, who was charged with a blown save in the eighth, came back out for the ninth after Tirotta’s homer and worked a scoreless inning to get the win.
Brock Dykxhoorn took the loss after giving up the go-ahead homer in the eighth.
Canada faces Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon before opening its WBC schedule on Saturday afternoon against Colombia in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Blue Jays have an off-day before returning to spring training action Thursday against Atlanta in North Port, Fla.
Jays score 5 runs in 2nd inning
Sanchez opened the scoring with a two-run single in the first inning. Toronto piled on five more runs in the second on a walk to George Springer with the bases loaded, a two-run single from Nathan Lukes, a groundout from Daulton Varsho and a run-scoring single by Sanchez.
Canada got two back in the sixth off Jays reliever Lazaro Estrada through a Tyler O’Neill sacrifice fly and an RBI single from Owen Caissie. Jared Young added another with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly off Tanner Andrews in the seventh.
Robson opened Canada’s big eighth inning with a solo homer off Gage Stanifer. Liam Hicks and Denzel Clark followed with run-scoring hits, then Tyler Black tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
Canada starter Logan Allen was pulled after allowing three baserunners without recording an out to start the second inning. He was charged with five earned runs.
Noah Skirrow pitched the next two innings, giving up two earned runs but striking out four.
Adam Macko, Eric Cerantola, Indigo Diaz and Antoine Jean combined to allow just one hit over the next four innings.
Canada’s WBC roster features 21 players who are either current major league players or have previous MLB playing experience.
Canada’s roster includes 14 players who competed in the most recent World Baseball Classic in 2023:
- Phillippe Aumont
- Owen Caissie
- Denzel Clarke
- Indigo Diaz
- Edouard Julien
- Otto Lopez
- Bo Naylor
- Tyler O’Neill
- Cal Quantrill
- Jacob Robson
- Noah Skirrow
- Abraham Toro
- Jared Young
- Rob Zastryzny.
Los Angeles Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman pulled out of the event in January due to personal reasons.
Canada will compete in Pool A, with games scheduled against Panama (Sunday), Puerto Rico (March 10), and Cuba (March 11). The top two teams in Pool A will advance to the quarterfinal round in Houston.
Source link
