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Great start from Daniel Norris, 2 home runs by Justin Smoak, Jays win

By Tom Dakers
Ezequiel Carrera was happy after his first hit of the spring.
Ezequiel Carrera was happy after his first hit of the spring.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Blue Jays 11 Rays 5

So, after we all made fun of the Jays lineup, they get into the double digits in runs. Justin Smoak hit his first and second home runs of the season and Ryan Goins hit a home run (unless, of course, the Jays radio guys were playing with us, I suspect they were).

Daniel Norris had a very good start. 5.2 innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 walk, 1 earned with 5 strikeouts. After saying that Norris didn't look great in his last start, Joe Siddall was very complimentary about his appearance today. Good to see him pitching well. He has a 2.84 ERA on the spring.

The bad news is that Maicer Izturis left the game in the 3rd inning with a groin strain. Hopefully it isn't a bad strain, or he'll be missing the start of the season.

Other pitchers:

  • Wilton Lopez looks like he is pitching himself out of the Jays plans. He gave up 2 hits, a walk, 3 earned, with 1 strikeout. 10.13 ERA.
  • Liam Hendriks: Got the last 2 out of 7th, giving up a hit and getting a k. 5.40 ERA.
  • Scott Barnes had a rough day, giving up a hit and 3 walks,with 1 unearned run, after getting 2 strikeouts to start the 8th, . 2.45 ERA.
  • Colt Hynes pitched around a Smoak error to have a scoreless 9th on 2 ground outs and a pop out. 0 ERA. Might be making a case to be the 3rd lefty in the pen, if the Jays want 3 lefties.

The bats were great. And we were helped along by some bad Rays defense.

  • Ezequiel Carrera had his first hit (a triple) and his second hit of the spring, plus 2 walks. Now hitting .067.
  • Daric Barton: 2 for 2, both doubles, and a walk. Nice to see him making solid contact too. ..207.
  • Caleb Gindl: 1 for 4, K. .375.
  • Smoak: 2 for 5, both home runs, k. .143.
  • Chris Dickerson: 0 for 3, walk. .154.
  • Josh Thole: 0 for 2, walk. .350.
  • Goins: 1 for 3, walk, home run. .333. If Izturis can't start the season, Goins would have a decent chance to make the team as the utility infielder.
  • Jonathan Diaz: 1 for 4, 3 strikeouts. .111.

Jays make a much shorter drive to Clearwater tomorrow, to play the Phillies. And the game is on MLB.tv.

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