Yusei Kikuchi’s spring training shutout streak comes to an end as Blue Jays drop both split-squad games to Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have finally gotten revenge for 1993.

They beat the Blue Jays by a score of 4-2 at home in Clearwater and they also pounded the Blue Jays by a score of 8-1 in Dunedin, earning themselves a Grapefruit League split-squad sweep. Flags fly forever!
Things worth mentioning…

Yusei Kikuchi had been perhaps the biggest story at camp for the Blue Jays, as he went 9 2/3 innings in his first four appearances of spring without allowing a run. Kikuchi’s spring shutout came to an end on Friday, unfortunately, as he walked the first two batters of the game, Brandon Marsh and Alec Bohm, and then allowed a double to Jake Cave. Kikuchi allowed one more run to score in the first frame on a sac fly but he settled down and found his groove after that. All told, he went three-and-one-third innings and allowed two earned runs on one hit and three walks while striking out three.

Kikuchi says he’s very happy with where he’s at right now, feeling free to let loose & attack hitters instead of thinking about mechanics.
Yusei did today’s post-game interview in English without an interpreter (after joking that I had to ask my questions in Japanese). #BlueJays
— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) March 17, 2023

Following Kikuchi, Adrian Hernandez and Paul Fry both got knocked around and combine …

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation

The offense hits on all cylinders as Blue Jays spank the Phillies 18-11

As our old friend John Gibbons tweeted tonight, the Phillies are glad they play in the NL East and not the AL East.

Phillies glad they play in NL East and not AL East #BlueJays
— John Gibbons (@johngibbons05) September 21, 2022

The Blue Jays continued their September success against quality opponents as they posted a football-esque score in a win over the Phillies 18-11 tonight behind their potent offense. The Phillies are in a very similar position as the Blue Jays; they currently sit in the final Wild Card spot in the NL. These games still mean a lot to Philly, so the Blue Jays going in there and running up the numbers is a big statement against another playoff-level team.
Bo Bichette started the month carrying this offense on his shoulders, and now we’re seeing the lineup turn more complete, as all facets of the offense have found ways to contribute. All nine starters in the lineup recorded at lease one hit, and the Jays had a base runner in every inning.
For the night, Toronto had ten extra-base hits. Five of those came from the first batter of the inning, and better yet, all five of those leadoff hits came around to score. The bottom line is that the Blue Jays attacked early and often on whichever Phillies pitcher stood on the mound, and they didn’t strand many runners as has been the case many times this season.
It was all Jays from the start, as Matt Chapman put Toronto ahead 3-0 with a 3-run home run the 1st inning. The Jays were aided heavily by the first of two errors from Phillies SS Bryson Stott. Vladimir Guerrer …

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Author: Evan Stack / Blue Jays Nation

‘I’m not going to let Canada tell me what I do:’ Philadelphia Phillies C J.T. Realmuto on being unvaccinated, missing series against Toronto Blue Jays

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto has drawn a hard line in the sand. He’s not going to let Canada tell him what to do.

The veteran will be missing the Phillies’ two-game series against the Jays on Tuesday and Wednesday, because he isn’t vaccinated against COVID-19.

J.T. Realmuto said he consulted with doctors he knew and decided he did not need a COVID vaccine. He will forfeit close to $260,000. “I’m not going to let Canada tell me what I do and don’t put in my body for a little bit of money,” Realmuto said. “It’s just not worth it.”
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) July 12, 2022

J.T. Realmuto on not being able to join the Phillies in Toronto due to his vaccination status: pic.twitter.com/7suM66OYaB
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) July 12, 2022

“I’m not going to let Canada tell me what I do and don’t put in my body for a little bit of money,” Realmuto said. “It’s just not worth it.”
Realmuto, as well as teammate 3B Alec Bohm, and starters Aaron Nola and Kyle Gibson. He was questioned by reporters Monday night after the Phillies dropped a 6-1 decision to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Consistently, we’ve heard the same ol’ narrative that the Toronto Blue Jays are at some kind of advantage through teams’ inabilities to bring unvaccinated players to play at Rogers Centre. But truth be told, it’s a two-way street. The U.S. still doesn’t allow unvaccinated people into their country.
Realmuto is one of the Phillies better players. He’s been consistently hitting fifth in the lineup and is slashing .236/.310/.369 with seven dingers on the season
The Phillies are going with a bullpen game Tuesday to kick off a quick, two-game series.
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.
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Author: Zach Laing / Blue Jays Nation