Game recap: Blue Jays add to home runs against Cardinals

The Cardinals got to starter Bowden Francis early, with both Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan contributing RBI singles in the first inning.

The Blue Jays tied it up in the top half of the second with a pair of RBI singles of their own from Nathan Lukes and Ali Sanchez. Alec Burleson homered for the Cardinals in the bottom of the fourth only for Addison Barger to hit and RBI double in the top half of the fifth to keep the game knotted 3-3.

The Cardinals then scored four un-answered runs thanks to a two-run single from Burleson in the fifth followed by a Lars Nootbar homerun and a Donovan single in the sixth. The Cardinals increased their lead in the eighth thanks to RBI doubles from Cesar Prieto and Matt Koperniak.

The Blue Jays made things interesting in the ninth with a pair of solo home runs from Robert Brooks and Will Robertson. However, Cardinals reliever Nick Anderson then got the final two outs to preserve the win for the Red Birds.

Bowden Francis went 3.2 innings, giving up three runs while striking out five and walking one. The Blue Jays used five pitchers in total and with the exception of a scoreless 0.1 inning by Paxton Schultz to finish off the fourth, they all gave up at least two runs.

Toronto now has a half-game lead over the Red Sox and Astros in the Grapefruit League standings.

The Blue Jays continue their Grapefruit League slate against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:07PM ET.