Blue Jays 6, Red Sox 3

Jose Bautista hit a long home run for Toronto in a win over Boston on Thursday.

Bautista's first-inning drove off Henry Owens easily cleared the 333-foot mark in left field and landed in a patch of oak trees. The five-time All-Star batted .286 with 35 homers and 103 RBIs in 155 games last season.

Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez allowed three runs on grounders by Brock Holt and Daniel Nava in the third and a sacrifice fly from Allen Craig in the sixth. The right-hander yielded four hits, walked one and struck out three in 5 1-3 innings.

Danny Valencia added a two-run homer for the Blue Jays in the fourth.

Phillies 7, Yankees 3

Chase Utley had two hits and a walk as Philadelphia beat New York.

Utley, slowed by a right ankle injury, has been limited to designated hitter, but Phillies manager Ryan Sandberg said the second baseman is "getting close" to playing defense.

Utley is hitting .500 (7 for 14) in five games this spring.

Aaron Harang allowed two runs and two hits over three innings for Philadelphia. The right-hander had missed two earlier starts due to back soreness.

Philadelphia closer Jonathan Papelbon threw a perfect inning, including a fly to center on a 3-2 pitch to Alex Rodriguez.

Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown came out of the game with left Achilles soreness. He will be examined Friday.

Mets (ss) 3, Astros 1

Dillon Gee allowed two hits over 3 2-3 scoreless innings in his return to the Mets' rotation, and a New York split squad beat Houston.

Gee, 7-8 with a 4.00 ERA in 22 starts last season, had been relegated to the bullpen when spring training began because of Matt Harvey's return from elbow surgery. Gee now appears to have regained a rotation spot because of Zack Wheeler's season-ending torn elbow ligament.

Gee threw 47 pitches, walked two and struck out nine.

Cuddyer and Granderson hit solo homers off former Mets pitcher Collin McHugh. Cuddyer's first-inning homer was his third of spring training and Granderson's fourth-inning drive was his second.

Travis d'Arnaud added an RBI double in the sixth.

Mets (ss) 7, Cardinals 2

Jon Niese struck out six in four innings, and a New York split squad defeated St. Louis.

Niese allowed one run and three hits and walked none in his third and longest outing of spring training.

Daniel Murphy singled and scored on John Mayberry's single in the first inning, then left between innings with what the Mets said was right hamstring tightness.

David Wright and Lucas Duda also made the trip.

Jaime Garcia struck out seven in four innings but also gave up four hits, including Wilmer Flores' third-inning homer.

Peter Bourjos broke a 1-for-24 spring training start with a solo homer in the eighth against Jon Velasquez.

Ellsbury says he'll be ready for opener

New York Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury says he's fully confident that he will be ready for opening day.

Ellsbury is out of action until the middle of next week because of a strained oblique. He first experienced discomfort last weekend and an MRI exam on Wednesday showed the extent.

Ellsbury said before Thursday night's game with Philadelphia that the injury "feels a lot better already."

The Yankees open at home against Toronto on April 6.