Tulowitzki homers for 2nd game in row, Blue Jays top Pirates

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) Troy Tulowitzki hit his second homer in as many games to lead the Toronto Blue Jays over the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 on Sunday.

Following a two-out double by Jose Bautista in the first inning, Tulowitzki connected off A.J. Schugel for a long drive to left field. The five-time All-Star also homered against Houston on Friday.

Toronto starter Marco Estrada had an up-and-down debut after missing nearly four weeks with back soreness, yielding a towering shot to Andrew McCutchen.

The right-hander walked John Jaso to lead off the game before McCutchen's fourth home run of spring training, which landed near the bullpen in right field.

''I was warming up and didn't feel great, and once I got out there, it took a little bit to get me going,'' Estrada said.

After walking David Freese and giving up a single to Starling Marte, Estrada settled down to retire six straight. He was lifted after McCutchen walked with no outs in the third.

''I've still got to work on a feel for pitches. That's to be expected right now for me, I guess,'' he said. ''I'm a little behind, but I think I'll be more than ready for the season.''

Ryan Goins added the go-ahead RBI double for Toronto in the fifth.

SHAPIRO SPEAKS

New Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro said he remains optimistic the team will be able to come to a contract agreement with 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion, who is eligible to become a free agent after the World Series.

In an interview with the Toronto Sun, the 33-year-old Encarnacion said he feels the Blue Jays ''don't have it in their plans for me to stay here.''

Shapiro said he has not met with Encarnacion to discuss the comments, but did not take issue with what the slugger said. Encarnacion and his agent, Paul Kinzler, previously set an opening-day deadline to get an extension worked out with Toronto and will not negotiate during the season.

''I think we just reinforce how much we appreciate him as a player, as a person for what he's done here and for what we hope he's going to do this year,'' Shapiro said. ''We're going to maintain a positive position that we hope he's part of the longer-term future as well, but keep the nature of those conversations private.''

A two-time All-Star, Encarnacion has not appeared in an exhibition game as he recovers from a strained oblique and an abscessed tooth that was pulled on Feb. 28.

STARTING TIME

Pirates: After Tulowitzki's homer, Schugel sat down the Blue Jays in order in the second. The right-hander is expected to start the season at Triple-A Indianapolis.

Blue Jays: Gavin Floyd, who was originally scheduled to start Saturday against Philadelphia before the game was rained out, gave up four hits in 4 1-3 scoreless innings in relief of Estrada.

The right-hander, who is in the mix for the fifth spot in the rotation, walked two and struck out two before being lifted in the eighth after a liner by Josh Harrison deflected off his leg.

FREESE FRAME

Making his first exhibition appearance at third base, Freese made a diving stop on a grounder by Russell Martin in the fourth before nabbing him by a step on a throw to Jaso at first.

The former All-Star signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Pirates on Friday after spending the last two seasons with the Angels.

UP NEXT

Pirates: Francisco Liriano is scheduled to make his third start Monday in a split-squad game against the Braves in Bradenton. The left-hander will be Pittsburgh's opening-day starter April 3 vs. St. Louis.

Blue Jays: Following an off-day on Monday, Drew Hutchison will make his fourth start Tuesday against the Tigers in Lakeland. The right-hander has struck out eight in 11 1-3 innings this spring.