Pitching, big bats lift Jays in rout of Twins
DUNEDIN— The Blue Jays are rolling along with the best record in spring training.
Starter Gavin Floyd tossed three innings of one-run, one-hit ball and backup outfield hopeful Darrell Ceciliani clubbed a first-inning grand slam in leading the Jays to a 9-3 victory in Dunedin over the Minnesota Twins.
The win improved Toronto to 6-1at spring training.
Here are five takeaways from the game:
NICE START
Floyd improved to 2-0 and enhanced his bid for the fifth starter’s job, which appears to be coming down to a four-way joust between Floyd, front-runner Aaron Sanchez, Jesse Chavez and Drew Hutchison. Floyd, on a guaranteed one-year deal, would likely break spring training in the bullpen if Sanchez wins the fifth spot, as expected.
GRAND SLAM
Ceciliani capped a five-run first inning with a grand slam off Twins starter Tyler Duffey. The Blue Jay, who played 39 games with the Mets last season, is challenging for the fourth outfielder spot with Dalton Pompey, Domonic Brown and Ezequiel Carrera. Ceciliani will likely start at Triple-A Buffalo but has left a good impression and could be the Jays’ first call-up if someone is sidelined by injury.
GOOD EFFORT
Roberto Hernandez, who won 19 games for the 2007 Cleveland Indians, worked two scoreless innings Tuesday.
Like Ceciliani, he likely is destined for Buffalo.
NOT LEFT OUT
Lefty reliever Chad Girodo worked three batters in the ninth and has been mentioned as a candidate to help the Jays with their lack of lefthanded relief pitching. Girodo rose quickly through three levels of minor league ball last season, finishing in Triple-A Buffalo. Toronto considered calling him up at one point last season.
WAITING GAME
David Adams played second base Monday and hit a solo home run in the fifth inning after a tremendous at-bat in which he fouled off five pitches. Adams appeared in 43 games for the New York Yankees in 2013, and has since been performing steadily in the minors, waiting for a chance as a utility infielder in the majors.