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In Blue Jays debut, Morales makes impact

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- When Kendrys Morales was introduced before the Blue Jays' Grapefruit League home opener Sunday at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, he got a nice round of applause.

That was nothing compared to the response he got when he homered off Phillies reliever Joaquin Benoit to lead off the third inning in just his second at-bat in a Blue Jays uniform.

He drove in a run with an infield single in his first at-bat and later advanced from second to third on a fly ball to right.

"Morales doesn't run great, but he's a good, all-around baseball player," manager John Gibbons said after Toronto's 10-3 loss.