Lukes hits grand slam as Jays beat Pirates in spring training action

By Canadian Press on March 6, 2026.

DUNEDIN — Nathan Lukes hit a grand slam as part of a five-run fourth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-2 in spring training action Friday.

Lukes went deep off of Pittsburgh’s Jarod Bayless to give Toronto its first lead of the game. Josh Rivera hit an RBI single earlier in the inning to cut Pittsburgh’s lead to 2-1.

Yohendrick Pinango and Eddie Micheletti Jr., hit solo homers in the eighth inning, and Geovanny Planchart drove in Toronto’s other run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Toronto starter José Berríos picked up the win after pitching four innings. He gave up an RBI single to Termarr Johnson and a solo homer to Dominic Fletcher while striking out three batters.

Jeff Hoffman, Jorge Alcala, Tyler Rogers, Brendon Little and Tommy Nance each pitched a shutout inning of relief.

Toronto (3-8-2) faces the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday afternoon in Clearwater, Fla.


This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 6, 2026.

The Canadian Press