Jays: Biagini the first to go three innings

DUNEDIN, FLA.— The Blue Jays defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7-1 Wednesday to end a four-game spring slide. They hadn’t won since their first Grapefruit League game.

Left fielder Curtis Granderson slammed a two-run homer to rightcentre. It was Granderson’s second of the spring. Teoscar Hernandez, who entered the game hitless in six atbats, was 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base.

The Jays play in Bradenton against the Pirates on Thursday.

EXTRA WORK: For a pitcher with an uncertain role, right-hander Joe Biagini has looked comfortable in the spring rotation. He became the first starter to go three innings Wednesday, allowing just two hits, including a solo homer to the Phillies’ Scott Kingery.

“He hit spots with his fastball consistently,” manager John Gibbons said. “He fell behind that one guy 3-0 and he came back. I see a different guy. He’s got a better rhythm. He’s on a mission.”

Biagini meandered his way back to the clubhouse after his outing, stopping to help young friend Brady change the first-base bag, then wandering over to sign autographs while almost losing his glove to a fan.

“The glove thing was a mistake, I’ll tell you that,” Biagini said, before talking about changing the bag. “I stayed with this family here the first two years. I had dinner with them the other night and (Brady) was excited about meeting me and I asked him if he’d be interested in going out to change the base. I’m kind of a grounds-crew-type mindset.”

BROADCAST NEWS: Jays radio analyst Joe Siddall has been announced as the replacement for Gregg Zaun on Sportsnet’s Baseball Central, alongside host Jamie Campbell, with former Expo Cliff Floyd and the FAN 590’s Kevin Barker backing him up.

And the auditions for the Jays’ new radio team continue, with Bisons play-by-play man Ben Wagner and Vancouver Canadians voice Rob Fai joining Mike Wilner this week.