Kikuchi strong again as Jays lose Grapefruit League finale to Phillies

By: The Canadian Press Posted: 2:34 PM CDT Tuesday, Mar. 28, 2023

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Yusei Kikuchi put in one last strong pitching performance this spring as the Toronto Blue Jays ended their Grapefruit League campaign Tuesday with a 6-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/03/2023 (961 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Yusei Kikuchi put in one last strong pitching performance this spring as the Toronto Blue Jays ended their Grapefruit League campaign Tuesday with a 6-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Kikuchi pitched 2 2/3 no-hit innings of relief, racking up six strikeouts over that span.

The left-hander finished spring training with a 2-1 record, a 0.87 earned-run average and 31 strikeouts over seven appearances, including six starts.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, of Japan, delivers to the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Friday, March 17, 2023, in Dunedin, Fla. Kikuchi put in one last strong pitching performance this spring as the Toronto Blue Jays ended their Grapefruit League campaign Tuesday with a 6-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Chris O'Meara

The Phillies won the game in the bottom of the ninth on Darick Hall’s RBI double off Jays reliever Adrian Hernandez, who hell to 0-2.

Toronto opened the scoring in the first inning on a two-run single by Brandon Belt.

Bo Bichette doubled the lead with a two-run homer in the top of the second.

Philadelphia cut the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the second on Edmundo Sosa’s sacrifice fly.

The Phillies took the lead with a four-run fourth. Alec Bohm opened the scoring with a sac fly, then a Jake Cave single scored Nick Ward. Cave advanced to third thanks to a pair of Toronto errors and scored on Sosa’s second sac fly of the game.

Toronto starter Jose Berrios was replaced by Tim Mayza, who surrendered an RBI single to Hall and left the game without recording an out.

The Jays tied in 505 in the seventh on a run-scoring double from Karl Ellison.

Albertus Barber pitched a scoreless ninth for the Phillies to pick up the win.

The Blue Jays finished the pre-season with a 17-15 record. Alek Manoah is scheduled to start Thursday when Toronto opens its 2023 regular season at St. Louis.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 28, 2023.