Towers, Blue Jays tattooed by Phillies

Last Updated: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 | 10:53 PM ET

CBC Sports

Starting pitcher Josh Towers couldn't hold a four-run lead as the Toronto Blue Jays fell 10-6 to the Philadelphia Phillies in Grapefruit League action on Wednesday.

Towers allowed five runs on nine hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings in front of 4,902 fans at Knology Park in Dunedin, Fla.

Troy Glaus homers in the first inning of Wednesday's 10-6 Toronto loss.
(Mike Carlson/Associated Press)

"Getting pulled and not getting through five [innings] is kind of embarassing," he said. "I actually felt great when he [Blue Jays manager John Gibbons] pulled me out of the game.

"I know I wasn't going to be able to talk him into leaving me in. But I didn't feel like I was fatigued, at all."

As Towers sat fuming in the dugout, he received some sage advice from veteran slugger Frank Thomas. 

"Frank kept getting on me," Towers said. "He was like, 'Hey, stay within yourself.'

"He kept getting in my ear about, 'Hey, let it go, it's gone.' That's what you need and that's what you have to do.

"I cannot control what goes on after I release the ball and there's no reason I should let that affect how I'm going to perform. Frank did a pretty good job of reinforcing that to me."

"I've been around this game a long time," Thomas said. "I've seen young guys get riled up because they're so motivated to do well and I know he's going through a little thing right now, where he wants to prove he's ready and deserves to be a starter on this team."

Accardo absorbs loss

Shane Victorino's two-run home run off Blue Jays reliever Jeremy Accardo (0-2) produced the decisive runs.

Chase Utley and Wes Helms also homered and combined for five runs batted in.

Rookie Michael Bourn, Karim Garcia and Aaron Rowand had the other RBIs.

Thomas homered and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays.

Troy Glaus clubbed a two-run homer and Jason Smith had an RBI single.

Philadelphia starter Freddy Garcia lasted just one inning, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk before being yanked. 

Garcia reportedly complained of stiffness in his right biceps.

"He wasn't throwing a whole lot up there," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "I figured that something might be wrong."

Garcia is having a horrendous spring, surrendering 11 runs in 8 2/3 innings on 15 hits and six walks with two strikeouts. 

Clay Condrey (2-0) earned the win in relief.