TORONTO newcomers Justin Turner and Eduardo Escobar each clubbed a three-run homer on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) as the host Blue Jays pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-3 in Dunedin, Florida.
Turner, who spent last season with the Boston Red Sox, went deep in the first, while Escobar, coming off a season in which he split time between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels, left the yard in the seventh.
Right-hander Chris Bassitt (1-1) was the beneficiary of Toronto’s offensive showcase, earning the win after allowing one run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out nine.
Oneil Cruz ripped a solo shot for Pittsburgh, which had nine hits but went just 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Pirates starter Roansy Contreras (0-2) struggled with his control, walking six in four innings. He gave up four runs and two hits while fanning three.
In other games, it was the Twins 1, Cardinals 1; Rays 4, Twins 3; Phillies 4, Tigers 1; Red Sox 9, Yankees 4; and Nationals 2, Marlins 1.
Twins 1, Cardinals 1
Christian Vazquez sent an RBI single to right in the bottom of the seventh to allow a Minnesota split squad to post a tie against visiting St. Louis in Fort Myers, Fla.
Dylan Carlson had put the Cardinals ahead with a solo home run in the top half of the frame.
Both starters went four innings in what ended up being a pitchers’ duel. The Twins’ Louie Varland surrendered just one hit and recorded four strikeouts, while St. Louis’ Zack Thompson struck out five and walked one without giving up a hit.
Rays 4, Twins 3
Jacob Lopez allowed just one hit across three strong innings of relief, helping host Tampa Bay beat Minnesota’s split squad in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Lopez (2-0) kept the Twins off the scoreboard, issued one walk and fanned five to collect the win. With the Rays trailing 3-2, Jonathan Aranda smacked a two-run blast in the fifth to drive in what ended up being the winning run.
