Vladimir Guerrero Jr. took advantage of the Toronto Blue Jays’ first preseason game Saturday afternoon in Florida to hit a home run.
Guerrero Jr. slammed the long ball in the fourth inning to drive in two runs to help in a 9-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton.
The Quebecois Dominican origin Otto Lopez also used this meeting to stand out from the crowd. He showed his speed to set up a triple in the third inning and then crossed home plate on a sacrificial fly from teammate Nathan Lukes. Lopez played the game as a right fielder.
Prospective Addison Barger and veteran Santiago Espinal also scored a home goal for the Jays in the game.
On the mound, Japan’s Yusei Kikuchi put on a reassuring performance to start the preseason, limiting the Pirates to one hit in two innings. Kikuchi usually had five strikeouts.
Édouard Julien on the trails
In Fort Myers, Quebecer Édouard Julien applied the recipe that would lead him to success, hitting the trails twice as often in a preseason game for the Minnesota Twins.
Julien, playing at second defensive base, first hit a single in the second inning against Tampa Bay Rays’ Josh Fleming before hitting with a triple from teammate Willi Castro. The 23-year-old Québec athlete drew a base on walks on the next round of batting. The twins won the game 8-4.