TORONTO

Blue Jays pick up Canadian left-hander Jeff Francis from Buffalo

The Canadian Press Published Sunday, April 19, 2015 12:05PM EDT

Pitcher Jeff Francis throws during spring training in Dunedin, Fla., on Feb. 23, 2015. (AP / Lynne Sladky)

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TORONTO - The Toronto Blue Jays picked up the contract of Canadian left-hander Jeff Francis from triple-A Buffalo on Sunday while optioning left-handed pitcher Colt Hynes to the International League club.

Francis, 34, of North Delta, B.C., is 1-0 after pitching five shutout innings in his first start of the season with Buffalo, allowing just two hits and two walks with five strikeouts. The six-foot-five, 200-pound Francis is set to become the 22nd Canadian-born player to appear in a game with Toronto.

Francis has a career record of 71-80 with a 4.95 earned-run average in 240 games -- including 217 starts -- over 10 major-league seasons.

Hynes, 29, appeared in five games this season with Toronto. He had no decisions with an earned-run average of 6.00.