The Toronto Blue Jays jumped off to a 7-2 lead after 5 innings scoring a pair of 1st inning runs off of lefthander J.A. Happ and 5 more runs in the 5th inning  off of Carlos Carrasco.  But 1st baseman Ryan Howard and leftfielder Jeremy Slayden took over in the 6th inning, each belting 2 run homers as the Phils exploded for 6 runs enroute to a wild 12-7 win.

That Happ and Carrasco were both pounded didn’t help their causes in competing for the coveted 5 starter role in the Phils rotation. Happ gave up a 2 run homer in the 1st and Carrasco gave up 2 homers in the 5th inning; a 3 run shot and a solo homer.

Everyone in the Phils starting lineup got a hit in this one as they pounded Blue Jay relievers for 11 runs between the 5th and 8h innings.  5 Phillies each got 2 hits and each of those 5 drove 2 runs in the game.  Leftfielder Raul Ibanez continues to impress with the stick collecting 2 doubles in this one.  Howard’s 2-run belt in the 6th inning bounced off a light tower in center field gave the Phillies an 8-7 lead and was his 2nd homer of the spring, his 2nd in 2 games.

Meanwhile, relievers Gary Majewski and and Yorman Bazardo shut the door on the Blue Jays holding them to 4 hits over the final 3 innings.

Carrasco, despite giving up 5 runs in the 5th inning, was credited with the win while Blue Jays reliever Jeremy Accardo, who was pounded for 7 Phillies runs in the 5th and 6th innings was charged with the loss.

Yahoo sports reports that the Phils, with veteran lefthander Jamie Moyer and Joe Blanton pitching in the “B” game, also beat Toronto 2-1.   2nd baseman Marcus Giles drove in one of the two runs off of lefthanded starter David Purcey.

For all of Monday’s exhibition game results, click here.

After an off-day on Tuesday, MLB.com reports that the Phils will host Team Canada in an exhibition game on Wednesday in Clearwater, Fla. World Series MVP lefthander Cole Hamels is scheduled start in his spring training debut.

The Phils return to regular spring training competition on Friday, March 6th in a night game against these same Toronto Blue Jays.

For Tuesday’s complete exhibition game schedules, click here.

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This entry was posted on Monday, March 2nd, 2009 at 8:10 pm and is filed under Real-Time Baseball News and Commentary
Off-Season Action
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