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DUNEDIN – In a competitive spring training matchup, the Toronto Blue Jays edged out the Philadelphia Phillies with a final score of 5-4 on Sunday. The game was highlighted by Bo Bichette’s two-hit performance, which included a crucial home run, and a pivotal walk by Phillies pitcher Konnor Ash that resulted in the winning run.
The seventh inning saw a dramatic turn as Phillies reliever Griff McGarry allowed singles to both Leo Jiménez and Matt Whatley. A wild pitch enabled Jiménez to cross home plate, leveling the score at 4-4.
Following this, walks to Alan Roden and Davis Schneider filled the bases, leading the Phillies to replace McGarry with Ash. However, Ash conceded a walk to Tyler Heineman, bringing in Whatley for the decisive run.
The final two runs of the game, which were scored due to Philadelphia’s errors, stood in stark contrast to the earlier action in which the game’s initial six runs came from impressive home runs.
Spring Training Highlights
Toronto’s Daulton Varsho kicked off the scoring with a solo homer in the first inning. Kody Clemens countered with a solo shot for the Phillies, evening the score with two outs in the second. Bichette then hit another two-out home run, his second of the day, reclaiming the lead for the Blue Jays, 2-1, in the third.
The sweep of momentum shifted once more when Gabriel Rincones Jr. launched a two-run homer in the fifth, placing the Phillies back ahead. However, Steward Berroa responded shortly after with a homer of his own, tying the game at 3-3.
Philadelphia managed to score its final run in the sixth with Rafael Marchán’s RBI double.
On the mound, Toronto’s Max Scherzer performed admirably, striking out four batters over 3 2/3 innings while allowing only Clemens’s home run as a hit. Reliever Alex Amalfi struck out two in a scoreless seventh to secure the win, and Chad Green closed the game with a flawless ninth inning.
With this win, the Blue Jays improved their spring training record to 5-3. They will face the Detroit Tigers next on Monday in Lakeland, Florida.
Note: This report has been corrected to reflect the accurate score following an earlier error.
Source
globalnews.ca