Donaldson has five RBIs as Blue Jays rout Phillies
TORONTO -- Josh Donaldson had a grand slam, two doubles and five RBIs, Marcus Stroman pitched seven innings and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 11-3 on Tuesday afternoon.
Ezequiel Carrera, Kevin Pillar and Edwin Encarnacion also homered for the Blue Jays (36-31), who have won four of their past five games. Pillar had three hits.
Cesar Hernandez homered for the Phillies (30-35), who have lost 14 of their past 18 games.
The teams split two games in Toronto with the final two games of the four-game interleague series to be played in Philadelphia starting Wednesday.
Stroman (6-2), who had a loss and two no-decisions in his three previous starts, allowed six hits, one walk and two runs. The right-hander had six strikeouts in his first win since May 18.
Philadelphia starter Zach Eflin (0-1), who was making his major-league debut, allowed nine hits, three walks and nine runs (eight earned) in 2 2/3 innings. The right-hander had two strikeouts before being replaced in Toronto's six-run third inning by left-hander Brett Oberholtzer, who pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings.
Eflin allowed a double to Donaldson and an RBI single by Russell Martin in the first inning.
Pillar led off the bottom of the second with his fifth homer of the season. Third baseman Andres Blanco was charged with an error on Jose Bautista's grounder and Donaldson followed with an RBI double.
Martin walked with one out in the third and Carrera hit his second homer of the season. Pillar and Devon Travis singled, Bautista walked and Donaldson hit his second grand slam of the season and the third of his career.
Blue Jays left fielder Michael Saunders, who was experiencing tightness in his right hamstring, was replaced by pinch hitter Darwin Barney in the third. Barney grounded out against Oberholtzer to end the inning. Barney stayed in the game and played shortstop with Ryan Goins moving from short to left field.
The Phillies scored a run in the sixth on a triple by Peter Bourjos and a double by Jimmy Paredes
Hernandez hit his second home run of the season with two out in the seventh.
Encarnacion hit his 16th homer of the season against right-hander Colton Murray in the seventh after Donaldson walked.
Paredes singled and Blanco hit a sacrifice fly against Toronto left-hander Aaron Loup in the eighth.
NOTES: The Phillies assigned RHP Luis Garcia to Lehigh Valley on option and selected the contract of RHP Zach Eflin from the Triple-A club. Eflin started the game Tuesday, his major-league debut. ... Toronto 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing the game Monday with a jammed right index finger. Encarnacion played first base and RF Jose Bautista was DH for the second straight game after missing three games with a sore right thigh. ... Phillies 3B Maikel Franco (right knee sprain) did not start for the second straight game on Tuesday. He was injured on Sunday. ... The four-game series moves to Philadelphia for the final two games with Blue Jays RHP Marco Estrada (4-2, 2.57 ERA) facing Phillies RHP Jeremy Hellickson (4-4, 4.34 ERA) on Wednesday.