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Hernandez drives in four runs as Jays down Rays 11-2 in spring training game

Mar 7, 2019 | 1:45 PM

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Teoscar Hernandez drove in four runs and Kevin Pillar hit a solo home run as the Toronto Blue Jays downed the Tampa Bay Rays 11-2 in pre-season baseball action Thursday.

Toronto had back-to-back five run innings in the third and fourth to break the game open.

The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the third when a Hernandez single scored two runs.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. scored on a wild pitch from Colin Poche, then Kendrys Morales followed with a two-run single.

Tandy Diaz got two runs back for the Rays with a single in the bottom of the third, but the Jays piled on five more runs in the next inning.

Gurriel started the big inning with an RBI double, then Hernandez scored two more with a line-drive single and Morales made it 10-2 with a sacrifice fly.

Pillar’s fifth-inning homer capped the scoring.

Clayton Richard picked up the win for Toronto (5-6). He allowed two earned runs and recorded three strikeouts and a walk over 2 2/3 innings.

Tyler Glasnow took the loss for Tampa Bay (6-8) after surrendering the first earned run, but the Jays did most of their damage against Poche (four earned runs without recording an out) and Wilmer Font (five runs, four earned, over a third of an inning).

The Jays and the Pittsburgh Pirates play a pair of split-squad games Friday.

The Canadian Press