Cristopher Sánchez’s changeup is ‘looking great,’ and it showed in his spring training debut

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Cristopher Sánchez stood in front of his locker inside the visitor’s clubhouse at TD Ballpark following his first two Grapefruit League innings on Saturday.

“Seemed like you had a great changeup today. Do you agree?” asked a reporter.

“Do you find that weird?” Sánchez replied, laughing, through a team interpreter.

Sánchez’s best pitch was as sharp as ever during his start against Toronto in a 7-5 Phillies loss. Of the 32 pitches he threw, seven were changeups, and Blue Jays hitters whiffed on every single one.

That included a big swing-and-miss from Toronto star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who soon will be on the same side as Sánchez when they join forces for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. The two of them shared a laugh afterwards.

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“[My changeup has] been looking great since I reported to camp,” Sánchez said. “But I mean, if it’s like that early on, you just got to take it.”

Guerrero ultimately won the battle with a line drive off a sinker that found a hole in the infield. It was one of two hits Sánchez allowed on Saturday, the other a 65.8 mph dribbler off the bat of George Springer that was hit too softly for third baseman Carson DeMartini to make a play.

Sánchez also committed an error on another dribbler in the second inning, dropping the ball as he tried to grab it with his glove, but rebounded by striking out the next batter — with his changeup, of course.

He is set to start the Dominican Republic’s first WBC game on March 6 against Nicaragua in Miami, which will fulfill a childhood dream.

“I feel like a kid at a candy store right now,” he said.

The Dominican Republic’s manager Albert Pujols, who Sánchez grew up admiring, called him to let him know he would start Game 1, and they have also been communicating about game plans.

“Never in my life would have ever dreamed that something like this would happen,” Sánchez said. “I never thought that I was going to get to this level.”

Justin Crawford went 2-for-3 with a double and an infield single that he used his speed to beat out. He also drew a walk.

Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper were both playing in their final game before departing for Team USA camp in Arizona. Schwarber singled, and Harper pulled a homer down the right field line.

Bryan De La Cruz also homered for the Phillies, while Garrett Stubbs hit a triple into the right field corner.

Brad Keller, who also left Saturday to join Team USA, allowed two earned runs off four hits from Blue Jays regulars: singles from Springer, Alejandro Kirk, and Ernie Clement, and a double from Andrés Giménez.

“I thought slider was good,” said manager Rob Thomson. “It didn’t look like the fastball had — although the velocity was good — it didn’t have the same jump to it. He gave up a couple barrels, but he got some soft contact, and he got a punch out."

Zach McCambley, Génesis Cabrera, and Alex McFarlane each pitched a scoreless inning.

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With Tim Mayza pitching the sixth inning, the Blue Jays scored four runs. Only two were charged to Mayza, who allowed three hits including a double and a homer, after first baseman Keaton Anthony committed a throwing error. Mayza was lifted after securing one out.

Trevor Richards gave up a single, three walks, and one run when Blue Jays prospect RJ Schreck stole home.

“They put a lot of work in,” Thomson said of the Phillies players departing for the WBC. “Not only in the offseason, but some extra work here [in] spring training.”

Andrew Painter is set to make his first start of the spring on Sunday at home against the Yankees (1:05 p.m., NBCSP).