Skipper Pete Mackanin sent out likely Opening Day starter Jeremy Hellickson to face the Toronto Blue Jays on a sunny day in Florida. Hellickson would be supported by the following lineup.
We take the short ride up to Dunedin today to face the Blue Jays at 1:07pm. Here's our lineup. #GoPhils
? @SportsRadioWIP pic.twitter.com/quq6sftDHQ
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) February 26, 2017
The Blue Jays drew first blood in this one, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the first inning, and getting to Hellickson.
The Phillies immediately backed up their ace at the top of the second inning, however. After the team loaded the bases, OF Cameron Perkins singled passed the shortstop to give Philly its first run of the ball game. The Phillies were a bit fortunate in the inning, as they scored two runs on two errors by the Blue Jays following the single.
After Hellickson silenced the Blue Jays bats in the second inning, INF Andres Blanco increased the Phillies lead with a solo homer in the 3rd. Blue Jays DH Kendrys Morales matched that solo bomb in the bottom half of the inning, making it a 4-3 Phillies game at the end of the third. It would be the last run scored by Toronto today.
Philly’s offense flipped the switch and started piling up the runs in the fifth inning. The team was receiving contributions from almost everyone in the lineup, as they scored 6 runs between the fifth and seventh inning, swelling the lead to 10-3. The young hitters did an excellent job at working the count and driving balls into the gaps in the outfield. It was very encouraging to see how they have progressed since last year.
The relief pitchers also did a great job of holding the lead all the way through the finish, which had been an area they struggled with the first two games.
So, the Phillies get the win over their 1993 World Series opponents, by way of blowout! The team will be back at it tomorrow to take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Bright House Field. Be sure to keep it locked right here at Philly Sports Network as we recap every Phillies game this season!
Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
