Instant Replay: Blue Jays 8, Phillies 5

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The Phillies’ bullpen could not contain the heavy-hitting Toronto Blue Jays in an 8-5 loss Tuesday night.

The Jays scored five times against a pair of Phillies relievers in the sixth inning to win for the 16th time in the last 19 games.

The Phillies have lost four in a row and six of their last seven.

Starting pitching report
Aaron Nola struggled with his control and walked four batters in five innings, but he managed to leave with a 4-3 lead after notching a 1-2-3 shutdown inning in the top of the fifth. Two of the walks that Nola allowed eventually became runs. The four walks were Nola’s most in 35 pro starts.

Toronto starting pitchers entered the game on a remarkable run: They had not allowed more than three runs in 20 straight games. That streak came to an end as knuckleballer R.A. Dickey gave up nine hits and five runs in four-plus innings.

Bullpen report
Elvis Araujo and Jeanmar Gomez combined to allow five runs in the top of the sixth inning as the Jays came back from a 5-3 deficit. Araujo walked the leadoff hitter and that became a run. Gomez, who has pitched well recently, gave up four hits and four runs as Toronto took control. Two of the hits that Gomez gave up were homers. Gomez had given up just one home run in his previous 80 appearances (96 1/3 innings) dating to May 2014.

At the plate
Chase Utley continued to swing the bat well since coming off the disabled list. He had a pair of singles, including one in the fifth inning that eventually became the Phillies’ fifth run as they built a 5-3 lead. Utley is 15 for 31 (.484) in eight games since coming off the DL.

Jeff Francoeur homered for the Phillies. Cody Asche, Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis also drove in runs.

AL MVP candidate Josh Donaldson belted his 32nd and 33rd homers, one of which was a three-run shot to bring the Jays back in the sixth. Edwin Encarnacion also homered for Toronto. Ezequiel Carrera had a two-run single for the winners.

In the field
Hernandez made two errors at third base. He also made one fielding gem.

Health check
Third baseman Maikel Franco is likely out for the rest of the season with a broken left wrist. It will cost him a shot at the NL Rookie of the Year award. It could also mean Utley stays in Philadelphia, where playing time could now be plentiful (see story).

Transaction
Outfielder Aaron Altherr was called up from Triple A. He hit .293 with 32 doubles, 14 homers and 67 RBIs in 111 games between Double A and Triple A this season.

Up next
The two-game series concludes on Wednesday night with a pair of lefties on the mound. Adam Morgan (3-4, 4.11) goes for the Phillies. Mark Buehrle (13-5, 3.31) goes for the Jays.

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