Quick Spring Recap: JA Happ Pitches Six Strong Innings

Blue Jays: 5, Pirates: 2.

JA Happ looked sharp today. He pitched six strong innings, allowing only 4 hits, one earned run (a homer to Starling Marte) and struck out five (four looking).

Happ hasn’t officially been named as the opening day starter, but it’s looking like the job is his.

After Marcus Stroman, Happ had the strongest performance last season. It will be a nice reward for him.

Buck and Dan predicted on the broadcast that Happ would be followed by Aaron Sanchez, Marco Estrada, Marcus Stroman (who mentioned at least four times in his press scrummage yesterday that he will start that Sunday) then Jaime Garcia.

Other Blue Jays pitchers:

• Luis Santos: 1.0 IP, 1 hit, 1 strikeout. I’m sure Gibbons would like to have him come up north as a long reliever, but it’s hard to see that happening.
• Roberto Osuna: 1.0 IP, 1 hit, 1 earned run (warning track fly turned triple off Jonathan Davis’ glove, followed by a sac fly), 1 strikeout.
• Tyler Clippard: 1.0 IP, clean inning.

The Blue Jays didn’t have much offense until the 7th inning, when Justin Smoak hit a no-doubter to right field.

Rest of the Blue Jays hitters:

• Devon Travis: 1-for-3, and ran into an out trying to advance late to second on a fly ball to right. It’s nice to see him being aggressive with his base running. .242.
• Russell Martin: 0-for-1 with a walk, .185.
• Josh Donaldson: 0-for-2, .250
• Justin Smoak: 1-for-3 with a 2-run home run, .233
• Kevin Pillar: 0-for-2, .471
• Kendrys Morales: 0-for-3 with 2 strikeouts, .231
• Aledmys Diaz: 0-for-3, with 2 strikeouts, .222
• Curtis Granderson: 0-for-2, .333
• Jonathan Davis: 1-for-3 with a double, .259
• Danny Espinosa: 1-for-2, RBI, .290
• Gift Ngoepe: 2-for-2, .226
• Patrick Cantwell: 1-for-1, 2 RBI single, .500
• Andrew Guillotte: A walk, .250
• Emilio Guerrero, DJ Davis: 0-for-1

Tomorrow the Blue Jays will head to Lake Buena Vista, FL to play the Atlanta Braves. Aaron Sanchez will get the start.