Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Brad Penny throws a pitch during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Osceola County Stadium on March 17, 2016 in Kissimmee, Fla.Kim Klement
Scott Diamond tossed two perfect innings, prospect Connor Panas homered and a Toronto Blue Jays split squad blanked the Canadian junior national team 12-0 on Thursday.
Diamond, who has not allowed a run in five outings, struck out four. The left-hander is battling for an opening-day roster spot but has not appeared in a big-league game since going 6-13 with Minnesota in 2013.
Panas, a ninth-round selection out of Canisius in last year's draft, hit a run-scoring double off 18-year-old starter Josh Burgmann in the second. He added a solo shot to right field in the fifth as part of a four-run inning.
Russell Martin went 0-for-1, grounding into a double play in the first.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said facing Team Canada has become a tradition his players look forward to each spring.
"They get a thrill out of it," he said. "Of course, we've got some of our bigger big-league players that are Canadian, so it's a fun day. You've got to tip your hat to the program they're running over there."
Four Toronto pitchers combined on a one-hitter.
On Friday, Aaron Sanchez is scheduled to make his second start against the Astros in Dunedin. The 23-year-old righty, who is competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, struck out four and walked one in four runless innings Sunday against Tampa Bay.
In Kissimmee, Fla., Carlos Correa and Preston Tucker homered, and George Springer scored three times on Thursday in the Houston Astros' 7-5 split-squad win over a Toronto Blue Jays split squad.
Correa's second spring homer gave the Astros a 5-0 lead in the second inning against Toronto starter Brad Penny after a leadoff triple by Springer.
Tucker's second homer of spring came after a walk to Springer in the fifth.
Penny gave up five runs on four hits and three walks in two innings.
Michael Feliz pitched three shutout innings in his first start for the Astros, giving up three hits.
Josh Thole had two hits and drove in two runs for the Blue Jays.