Torres belts two homes, leads Yankees to spring training win over Blue Jays

TAMPA, Fla. – Gleyber Torres belted a pair of home runs as the New York Yankees downed the Toronto Blue Jays 5-1 in pre-season baseball action Saturday.

Torres, who also hit a double in the game, opened the scoring with a solo shot off Jays starter Anthony Kay in the bottom of the third and opened a 4-0 lead with a two-run homer off Kirby Snead in the bottom of the fourth.

Mike Ford capped the scoring for New York with a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh.

Toronto got one back in the top of the eighth when Joe Panik’s ground out scored Forrest Wall.

Kay gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks over 2 2/3 innings to pick up the loss.

Luis Garcia pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Jhoulys Chacin to earn the win.

The Blue Jays face Detroit on Sunday in their second-last spring-training game.

Toronto opens its regular season April 1 on the road against the Yankees.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2021.