CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) _ Jeff Brantley got a rude welcome back.

Pitching for the first time in nearly 10 months following shoulder surgery, Brantley entered in the eighth inning against Toronto on Saturday. On his first pitch, Casey Blake hit a game-tying home run.

``I don't know if you could register my adrenaline, but if you could, it was a 10 out of 10,'' Brantley said. ``Then it got even higher after the home run.''

Brantley then gave up a single before retiring his next three batters, and the Phillies went on to beat the Blue Jays 9-8.

It was his first time in a game since last May 22. He had surgery four days later to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder.

``Jeff's location was way better than I expected, and some of his fastballs were crisp,'' Phillies manager Terry Francona said. ``Now we have to wait and see how he bounces back.''

Brantley expected to be ready for opening day.

``There's no doubt in my mind,'' he said.

Alex Arias, batting for winner Mike Jackson, hit a game-winning single in the ninth off loser John Sneed.

Blue Jays right-hander Kelvim Escobar, making his first start of the spring, gave up one run and one hit in one inning. Escobar, projected as Toronto's fourth starter, is behind this spring due to a sore back.

Phillies right-hander Andy Ashby, the team's opening day starter, gave up five runs _ four earned _ and six hits in four innings.

Homer Bush hit a three-run homer in the third against Ashby for a 4-1 lead. Mike Lieberthal hit a two-run homer for the Phillies.