The Toronto Blue Jays rallied for a run in the top of the 10th inning to beat the Phillies, 6-5, in an interleague game at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night.
The Jays scored for the go-ahead run against Phillies lefty Antonio Bastardo on two singles and a sacrifice fly to center field by Juan Francisco. Francisco’s ball wasn’t hit particularly deep, but Phils centerfielder Ben Revere has one of the weakest outfield arms in baseball so the run scored easily.
Cody Asche had a huge night for the Phillies. His grand slam in the sixth brought the Phils all the way back from a five-run deficit as they tied the game at 5-5.
Asche had four hits in the game. He is 7 for 12 in his last three starts. It will be interesting to see if manager Ryne Sandberg starts Asche against lefty Mark Buehrle in Toronto on Wednesday night. The left-handed hitting Asche has not started against a lefty pitcher since April 4.
The Phillies have lost two in a row. They are 15-16.
Starting pitching report
Cole Hamels did not pitch well in his third start. He allowed 10 hits, including two homers, and five runs over six innings and trailed 5-0 before the Phillies rallied for five runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Hamels has allowed 11 runs over 10 2/3 innings in his last two starts.
Toronto right-hander Drew Hutchison allowed five hits and no runs through the first five innings. He gave up four hits, a walk and five runs in the sixth as the Phillies tied the game on Asche’s grand slam. Hutchison did not allow another baserunner after Asche’s slam.
Bullpen report
Jeff Manship, Jake Diekman and Jonathan Papelbon teamed for three scoreless innings after the Phillies tied the game. Bastardo took the loss.
Right-hander Marcus Stroman got the win. He stranded the potential winning run (Asche) at third base in the bottom of the ninth.
At the plate
The Phillies had gone 21 straight innings, dating to Sunday, before scoring their first run in the sixth inning. Ryan Howard drove in that run with a single.
Edwin Encarnacion and Colby Rasmus both homered against Hamels. Rasmus’ was a long, two-run shot in the fourth inning.
In the field
Marlon Byrd made an outstanding diving catch on Erik Kratz’s sinking liner to right for the second out in the eighth inning.
Health check
Jimmy Rollins did not start for the second straight game because of a sore groin. He is day to day (see story).
Galvis struggles
Freddy Galvis started in place of Rollins at shortstop. He was hitless in two at-bats and is now 2 for 38 on the season. Galvis looks to be pressing all over the field. He made a costly baserunning blunder in the second inning and appeared to get signals mixed with Chase Utley on a ground ball base hit in the fourth. Utley was shifting Encarnacion to the left side of the field and the ball sneaked between him and Galvis for a hit. Jose Bautista moved to third on the play and scored on a fielder’s choice.
The shift also came back to bite the Phillies in the 10th when Bautista singled through the second-base hole vacated by Utley. The hit set up the go-ahead run.
Up next
The two teams play again Wednesday night in Toronto. Buehrle (5-1, 2.25) and Cliff Lee (3-2, 3.00) are the pitchers.