Bautista hits a homer in second time at bat

Blue Jays slugger’s wrist ‘felt perfect’

DUNEDIN, FLA. — Jose Bautista liked John Farrell. So when the former Toronto Blue Jays manager comes to town with his new team on Monday, Bautista says he will chat him up and wish him well.

“And then I’m going to try to kick his ass,” Bautista said.

Bautista did a little of that on Sunday, whacking a two-run homer in his first game of the exhibition season. That came in his second at-bat. First time up, he lined out to the warning track in right field.

His left wrist, surgically repaired last August, “felt perfect,” he said.

Bautista’s positive response of his surgically repaired wrist did not surprise him. During his recovery, he never doubted he would return to normal.

“We’re used to knowing what feels good and what doesn’t,” he said after the Jays lost 5-4 to Baltimore. “Even though I was sore at the beginning and had to work to get my range of motion and my strength back, I knew I was going to be fine because nothing felt out of place or weird or funny, and all the pain that I had was strictly on the scar because of the surgery.”

His performance was a boost for those seeking good omens in a meaningless game. Fans also could take heart from the work of Sergio Santos, who threw nothing but strikes in a perfect third inning.

Santos had not pitched in a game since April 20, 2012. Shoulder surgery ended his season and his bid to become the Jays’ new closer. But he had felt strong since camp opened, and Sunday brought more of the same.

His five fastballs and one slider produced two fly balls and a sharp comebacker. Twice he hit 95 on the stadium radar gun.

In his Blue Jays debut, starter Mark Buehrle was his usual efficient self during a perfect first inning. But his command faltered in the second when he gave up four straight hits, including a tworun homer, before leaving after 35 pitches.

“It seems like I never pitch too good in spring training; my numbers aren’t good,” Buehrle said.

The Jays split their squad Sunday, sending another contingent to Tampa for a 2-0 win over the New York Yankees. J.A. Happ and Brett Cecil each worked two innings.

New York’s Curtis Granderson suffered a broken arm when hit by a Happ pitch and will miss 10 weeks.