The Toronto Blue Jays opened up Spring Training today in Dunedin, Florida with a 7-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

Despite a terrible performance Daniel Schlereth, who was acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Curtis Granderson three team swap in the off-season, received the win for the Tigers.

Non-roster invitee Willie Collazo received the loss for the Jays, blowing a ninth inning lead, receiving a blown save against his spring record.

Highlights from the game included good performances by both teams starting pitchers, Ricky Romero for Toronto & Jeremy Bonderman for the Tigers.

Romero threw a total of 29 pitches, 17 of which were strikes, allowing one run on two hits with the solo run allowed coming via a first inning home run off the bat of Brent Dlugach.

Bonderman pitched two shut out innings, allowing one hit and striking out three.

Blue Jays highlights from the game include a three run home run off the bat of former first round pick Chris Lubanski in the bottom of the eighth inning, which at the time put the Jays in the lead 6-5.

John Buck, Mike McCoy and Jeremy Reed all contributed with runs batted in on the day, while Randy Ruiz had a 2 for 3 day with a run scored.

Travis Snider had a rough day at the plate out of Toronto’s nine hole striking out twice on both of his plate appearances, while leaving three men on base.

Joey Gathright also had a hard day striking out all three times he came to the plate.

Toronto’s bullpen saw mixed results, with Dana Eveland pitching well over two innings of work, allowing one run on two hits while walking two. Eveland also picked off Tigers speedster Austin Jackson.

Jays rule five draft pick Zech Zinicola impressed in his inning and a third allowing no runs on two hits while striking out one. Zinicola also managed to get out of a jam leaving two runners on base.

Along with Collazo, who lost the game in the ninth for the Jays, rough days out of the pen came courtesy of Josh Roenicke, who allowed one run on two hits, while walking three in an inning and two thirds and Merkin Valdez who allowed two runs, one of which was earned on three hits, while striking out one in an inning of work.

The Jays travel to Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida tomorrow to battle the same Detroit team beginning at 1:05pm EST.

The Jays will send young left hander Marc Rzepczynski to the mound to do battle with the Tigers outstanding youngster Rick Porcello.

Team/Player Photos: Baltimore Orioles v Toronto Blue Jays on Jul 28, 2010

Expect to also see an appearance from highly touted Jays prospect Kyle Drabek, the centrepiece of the off-season trade of former ace Roy Halladay.

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