The Toronto Blue Jays fell 3-2 to the Baltimore Orioles at TD Ballpark on Wednesday in spring training play. Despite Addison Barger's 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI effort at the plate, the Jays could not pull even when it mattered. Josh Fleming worked 2.0 innings on the mound, allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits. The Orioles out-hit the Jays 7-5 on the day. The Jays will look to regroup as spring training rolls on. There is still time to work through the rough patches before the regular season arrives, and the coaching staff will use today's performance as a learning opportunity.
Key Performers
Addison Barger was the standout at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI. The long ball provided a major boost to the offensive attack. It was the kind of day at the plate that suggests good things ahead for the Jays offense.
George Springer added to the attack, going 1-for-2 with a double, Myles Straw provided support, going 1-for-2, and Nathan Lukes also contributed, going 1-for-3. Despite the individual efforts, the offense could not generate enough sustained production.
On the other side of the diamond, Jeremiah Jackson led the Orioles offense with a 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI day. Ryan Mountcastle also contributed, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Blaze Alexander added a 1-for-3 with an RBI effort as well. The Orioles offense proved to be too much for the Jays pitching staff to contain on this particular day.
On the Mound
Josh Fleming took the loss after having a rough go of it, working 2.0 innings while allowing 2 earned runs on 3 hits with two strikeouts. He threw 40 pitches in the outing. His outing provided the coaching staff with another data point as rotation and bullpen decisions loom.
The bullpen combined for 6.3 innings of work, allowing 1 earned run while striking out ten. The relief corps kept the game within reach after the starter departed. Managing the bullpen workload is a key priority during the spring, and every outing helps the coaching staff gauge who is ready for high-leverage situations. Alex Pham recorded the save to close out the game.
Among the relievers, Spencer Miles stood out with 2.0 innings of 1-run work, striking out two. The outing gave the coaching staff confidence in his ability to contribute this season.
How It Happened
Orioles got on the board first with two runs in the first inning. The Jays responded with a run in the second. Orioles countered with a run in the fourth. The Jays struck back with a run in the seventh. Orioles out-hit the Jays 7-5, with both teams playing clean defense. A crowd of 7,269 was on hand to take in the action.
Looking Ahead
The Jays will regroup and get back to work in their next outing. While the final score was not in their favor, the exhibition season is about building toward the regular season, and this game provided useful reps for a roster still taking shape. The coaching staff will review the performance and make adjustments before the next time out.
