Herrera, Phillies blank Blue Jays
TORONTO -- Odubel Herrera hit a home run and had three RBIs, Ryan Howard homered, Jerad Eickhoff pitched six scoreless innings and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-0 on Monday night.
The Phillies (30-34) ended a four-game skid with the win while stopping a three-game winning streak by the Blue Jays (35-31).
Eickhoff (4-8) allowed three hits and four walks to win his second straight start. The right-hander struck out five before David Hernandez took over in the seventh.
R.A. Dickey (4-7) allowed five hits, including two home runs, two walks and three runs in 6 1/3 innings to end his two-game winning streak. The right-hander struck out four.
Howard led off the top of the seventh inning with his 10th home run of the season on a 2-0 a pitch, a drive to right.
After recently losing his starting first baseman's job to Tommy Joseph, Howard was used as designated hitter Monday in the interleague game.
Dickey was replaced by Joe Biagini after a one-out walk to Cody Asche in the seventh. Asche stole second as Cesar Hernandez struck out and scored on a ground-rule double to center by Peter Bourjos that gave Philadelphia a 3-0- lead.
Left-hander Aaron Loup replaced Biagini and allowed an RBI single to Herrera.
Drew Storen struck out the side for Toronto in the top of the eighth.
Michael Saunders opened the bottom of the eighth by drawing a walk from Hector Neris. Justin Smoak followed with a single. Kevin Pillar grounded to third to start a double play and Ezequiel Carrera struck out to end the inning.
Left-hander Scott Diamond walked the first two Phillies' batters he faced in the ninth. Cesar Hernandez followed with an RBI double and Bourjos grounded an RBI single to left. Herrera's grounder forced Bourjos out at second and another run scored.
The Blue Jays had a two-out single in the first inning by Michael Saunders followed by a walk by Justin Smoak. Eickhoff struck out Kevin Pillar to end the threat.
Herrera lined a 2-1 knuckleball to right field with two out in the third inning for his sixth homer of the season to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. It was the 11th homer of the season allowed by Dickey.
The Blue Jays had walks in the third and fourth innings but did not get their second hit until Devon Travis led off the bottom of the fifth with a single. Josh Donaldson singled to right with two outs before Saunders struck out.
Monday's contest was played on the anniversary of the first interleague game played by either team on June 13, 1997, and it was against each other. The Phillies won 4-3 over the Blue Jays at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
NOTES: The Blue Jays selected the contract LHP Scott Diamond from Buffalo on Monday and optioned LHP/RHP Pat Venditte to the Triple-A club. LHP Franklin Morales (shoulder) was moved to the 60-day disabled list to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Diamond, who was 4-6 with a 3.16 ERA in 12 starts at Buffalo. He will be used in long and middle relief in Toronto. ... Toronto 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion jammed his right index finger stealing third base Sunday and was out of the starting lineup on Monday. ... Toronto RF Jose Bautista (thigh) returned to the lineup as the DH and leadoff hitter Monday after missing three games. ... Phillies 3B Maikel Franco (mild right knee strain) was out of the lineup Monday and is day to day. ... Phillies RHP Zach Eflin (major league debut) will face Blue Jays RHP Marcus Stroman (5-2, 2.94 ERA) on Tuesday.