Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar went 3-for-3 on Thursday, but the rest of the team couldn't muster any offence in a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates as the Jays continue play in spring training.

Pillar opened the scoring for the Blue Jays (2-5) with an RBI single in the top of the second inning, but the Pirates (1-4) answered back in the bottom of the frame with a home run off of Jays' starter JA Happ.

It was the only hit the left-hander gave up in two innings of work to go along with three strikeouts.

Chris Rowley took his second loss of the spring after allowing one run in his lone inning of work in the sixth and Canadian Andrew Case gave up two runs in the next frame.

The Blue Jays' bats were unable to respond and the Pirates' pitching kept the Jays at bay for most of the game, limiting the team to a combined 6-for-29 at the plate. 

Toronto begins a home-and-home with the Minnesota Twins on Friday as newly acquired pitcher Jake Odorizzi is expected to make his spring debut for the Twins.

The team also announced that outfielder Ezequiel Carrera has been out-righted to Triple-A Buffalo and will return to Major League camp as a non-roster invitee.

Carrera, 30, was designated for assignment on Feb. 26 after the Blue Jays signed reliever Seung-Hwan Oh.

In 2017, Carrera hit .282/.356/.408 with eight home runs in 131 games.