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Phillies beat Blue Jays, 7-2, at Bright House Field

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Roy Halladay played to mixed reviews in his final spring start, looking alternately in control and laboring over 4 1/3 innings Thursday as the Phillies finished off their Florida stay with a 7-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Philies starting pitcher Roy Halladay. (Michael Bryant/Staff Photographer)
Philies starting pitcher Roy Halladay. (Michael Bryant/Staff Photographer)Read more

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Roy Halladay played to mixed reviews in his final spring start, looking alternately in control and laboring over 4 1/3 innings Thursday as the Phillies finished off their Florida stay with a 7-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

Chase Utley and Laynce Nix each delivered three-run homers as the Phillies (16-15-1) pounded their way back from an early 2-0 deficit. Utley's fifth homer of the spring came against Jays starter Brandon Morrow in the sixth; Nix's shot capped a four-run eighth against Sergio Santos.

Halladay threw 96 pitches in his outing, showing good velocity but spotty location as he gave up all eight Blue Jays hits and struck out six. After a strong first inning, he labored in both the second and third.

An Adam Lind double and walks to J.P. Arencibia and Colby Rasmus loaded the bases with one out in the second, though Halladay escaped the jam by striking out both Maicer Izturis and Emilio Bonafacio.

The Jays broke through against Halladay with a two-out rally in the third. Jose Bautista doubled and came home on Edwin Encarnacion's single, with Encarnacion moving to second on the throw home. Lind followed with an RBI single.

Halladay set down the Jays in the fourth, then left after Jose Reyes and Melky Cabrera singles in the fifth.

"He's gaining momentum," pitching coach Rich Dubee told reporters afterward. "I think gradually he's gaining his strength back, the strength that he lost."

Halladay was felled by the flu two weeks ago, leaving his March 17 start after just one inning. His last outing as four innings in a minor-leagu game on March 23.

Hector Neris got the final two outs of the fifth. Cesar Jimenez (1-0), Philippe Aumont, Mike Adams and Jonathan Papelbon each worked 1-2-3 innings as the Phillies set down the final 14 Blue Jays in order.

Morrow worked seven innings for the Blue Jays, giving up three runs (two earned) and six hits.

Ben Revere had two of the Phillies' nine hits, including a bunt single and NL-leading 10th stolen base, as he continued to make his case to take over the leadoff spot. Minor leaguer Michael Martinez had a double in the eighth.

The Phillies now come home for two exhibitions at Citizens Bank Park, both against Toronto, before heading to Atlanta for Opening Day.

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