CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Phillies, at the very least, will go undefeated against college teams in 2016.
There was no embarrassment at Bright House Field like last spring, as the Phillies beat the University of Tampa, 8-3, in Sunday's first exhibition game.
Both Jeremy Hellickson and Aaron Nola breezed through nine-pitch innings. Edward Mujica, a veteran reliever attempting to make the Phillies bullpen, was hit around for three runs in the third inning.
The rest of the pitchers were unblemished.
Last spring, the eventual Division-II champion Spartans beat the Phillies, 6-2. College teams were 1-23 against big-league teams in the last four springs, with Tampa's comeback win as the only triumph.