Toronto Blue Jays’ Joey Votto hits a solo home run off Philadelphia Phillies starter Zack Wheeler during the first inning of a spring training baseball game at BayCare Ballpark, Sunday, March 17, 2024, in Clearwater, Fla. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Steve Nesius)

By Canadian Press

Spring Training

Votto homers in Blue Jays’ 5-5 tie against Phillies in pre-season action

Mar 17, 2024 | 5:01 PM

Joey Votto homered in his first at-bat in the opening inning and the Toronto Blue Jays played to a 5-5 draw against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday in pre-season action.

It was one of two split-squad games on the day for the Blue Jays, who defeated the Minnesota Twins 9-4 in Dunedin, Fla.

Votto, from Toronto, made his first appearance in a Jays uniform after signing a minor league deal with a spring training invite on March 9.

The 40-year-old joined Toronto after 17 years with Cincinnati, where he was a six-time all-star and earned National League MVP honours in 2010.

Ernie Clement’s eighth-inning homer, followed by Garrett Spain’s RBI single in the ninth pulled Toronto (11-11) even against Philadelphia. Starter Jose Berrios had two strikeouts and surrendered six hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings.

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Rodolfo Castro had two runs batted in for Philadelphia (8-9). Zack Wheeler struck out two batters, walked one and gave up three hits and one run in four innings as the starter.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2024.

The Canadian Press