Blue Jays' Cecil temporarily removed from closer's role

Brett Cecil couldn't even make it out of one inning before getting stripped of his role as the Toronto Blue Jays' closer.

Cecil made his first appearance of the season Wednesday, entering in a bases-loaded situation in the eighth inning with a two-run lead. By the time he was lifted, Toronto was down 4-3 in an eventual loss to the New York Yankees. He was temporarily removed from the closer's role Thursday. 

Cecil, whose spring training workload was limited due to shoulder soreness, told reporters the injury has prevented him from being at full strength. Manager John Gibbons said, for the time being, he will turn to the 2013 All-Star in the seventh and eighth innings as he builds himself back up. 

The left-hander issued a wild pitch and hit a batter with the bases juiced and was throwing with decreased velocity Wednesday. His average four-seam fastball was down six mph from a season ago and failed to crack 90.

Toronto will likely use a collection of relievers in the ninth inning, a group that's expected to include rookie Miguel Castro. 

Castro, 20, has lit up the radar gun and thrown two scoreless innings to start his major-league career.