Instant Reaction: Daulton Varsho hit his third home run of Spring Training in the Blue Jays’ 3-2 victory over the Twins

Can anyone beat the Spring Training Toronto Blue Jays?

The Minnesota Twins had their chance on Tuesday afternoon, with the two teams meeting in Dunedin. In comeback fashion, the Blue Jays won 3-2 to move to 11-6-1 this Spring Training, the best record in Grapefruit League action. Let’s take a look at what happened.

The game was scoreless until the top of the sixth, as José Miranda hit a two-run home run, scoring former Blue Jay Austin Martin for a 2-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Bo Bichette hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Myles Straw to cut the Twins lead in half.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Daulton Varsho hit his team-leading third home run of Spring Training to tie the game at two. 

The following inning, Josh Rivera, who was acquired in the Nate Pearson deal with the Chicago Cubs before the 2024 trade deadline, drove in the game-winning run with a single.

Takeaways…

Daulton Varsho looks fantastic so far this Spring Training. He’s been limited to designated hitting duties as he’s ramping up in centre field but if he can hit for power like this in the regular season, it will be a good season for the Blue Jays.

Varsho’s home run was the only extra-base hit in this game. Bo Bichette, Rainer Nuñez, Josh Rivera, Anthony Santander, and Myles Straw each hit a single, while Andrés Giménez, Santander, and Straw all walked once.

Chris Bassitt had a good start, finishing with a line of 4.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, and 4 K to bring his Spring Training ERA to 1.86. Mason Fluharty was the first out of the bullpen, striking out the only batter he faced on three pitches.

Jeff Hoffman was the only Blue Jays’ pitcher to allow a run, walking one, allowing two hits, and giving up two earned runs in his two-thirds of an inning pitched. Kevin Gowdy got out of the inning. Tommy Nance had a nice bounce-back outing, striking out two in his inning of work. Brendon Little has yet to give up an earned run, striking out a batter in his inning of work, while Nick Robertson struck out two in his inning of work.

The Blue Jays have Wednesday off but return to action on Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles at 1:07 PM ET in Dunedin. They don’t have an expected starter yet as Max Scherzer was bumped from his start.