Jays lose at Joker, Canadians fare Well

Omar Viquel goes yard for the Jays. (Eddie Michels photo)

LAKELAND, Fla.—The Toronto Blue Jays along with their starter and loser Brett Cecil had a tough time at the hands of the Detroit Tigers Monday 11-8.  Two Canadian players though made the most of their trip to Lakeland.

Marcus Knecht (Ontario) went 2-3 at the plate with a homer, two runs and an RBI while Michael Crouse (BC) went 1-1 with a walk and a stolen base.

Skipper meeting; Jim Leyland and John Farrell chat on Monday before the game in Lakeland

The two prospects will probably start the season at upper Class-A Dunedin.

The Tigers Drew Smyly (1-0) went 5 1/3 innings allowing four runs to best Cecil.

Cecil (3-1) was tagged for nine runs, seven earned on 11 hits over four innings walking one and striking out one while allowing two homers.

44 year old Omar Vizquel showed no signs of his age as he hit a two run homer.

BLUE JAYS NOTES: The Blue Jays play their last game of the spring on Tuesday as RHP Henderson Alvarez faces the Tigers RHP Max Scherzer at 12:05 PM at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. …”We’ll take every game in spring training to evaluate,” said Farrell of his starting rotation, “It will give us every opportunity.  Tomorrow will be Alvarez and (Kyle) Drabek pitching, …right now it’s probably Henderson (Alvarez) in the four hole regardless of how some other things shake out.”  As to the overall level of the team Farrell said, “This is a team that is growing in confidence, they are growing in their own right, we can beat our own expectations.”  On Saturday after pitching against the Phillies lefty Ricky Romero made the statement that, “I’m sick of going home in October.”