Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Jonatan Clase hits a sacrifice fly ball in the second inning against the Atlanta Braves during spring training at CoolToday Park on Thursday.Jonathan Dyer/Reuters
Mauricio Dubon had a two-run double and Drake Baldwin hit an RBI single in a three-run sixth inning as the Atlanta Braves topped the Toronto Blue Jays 9-5 on Thursday in exhibition play.
Dominic Smith smashed a two-run homer for Atlanta (9-2) in the fourth after Austin Riley’s sacrifice fly scored a run.
Tristin English’s three-run double in the seventh added some insurance for the Braves.
Addison Barger had a two-run double in the fifth inning to tie the game 3-3 for Toronto (2-8) after an eight-pitch at bat against Braves pitcher Spencer Strider.
Jonathan Clase opened the scoring in the first for the Blue Jays with a sacrifice fly and Cutter Coffey had a two-run double in the seventh to cut Atlanta’s lead to 6-5.
Chris Sale started for Atlanta, giving up a run on five hits over three innings and Strider earned the win despite allowing two runs on two hits over 2 1/3 innings. He struck out four.
Four more Braves pitchers followed Strider to the mound.
Eric Lauer pitched 2 1/3 innings in the start for Toronto, allowing a run on three hits. Six relievers came to the mound after him, with CJ Van Eyk taking the loss, giving up all three runs in the sixth.