Blue Jays at Phillies
The Toronto Blue Jays aim for consecutive victories for the first time in nearly a month when they continue a three-game interleague series at the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. A ninth-inning rally by the Phillies fell short Friday night as the Blue Jays retired the last two hitters with the bases loaded to claim a 6-5 win.
Justin Smoak clubbed a two-run homer to pace Toronto's 11-hit attack as his team improved to 12-10 on the road. Philadelphia lost for just the fifth time in 23 games against teams outside of its division and suffered its first setback in five tries versus the American League East. Rhys Hoskins struck out looking with the bases loaded for the second out in the bottom of the ninth and is 3-for-26 over the course of a seven-game slump. Blue Jays lefty Jaime Garcia returns from a shoulder ailment to make Saturday's start opposite Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola, who entered Friday fifth in the National League in ERA.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA (Toronto), NBCS Philadelphia Plus
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Jaime Garcia (2-3, 6.28 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (6-2, 2.37)
Garcia gave up six runs over just 3 2/3 innings at the New York Mets on May 15 before landing on the shelf. The outing left him with a 9.68 ERA in four road starts, during which opponents have hit .320. The 31-year-old has a 2.92 mark in 12 career meetings (10 starts) with the Phillies and has gone through 22 innings at Citizens Bank Park without allowing a home run.
Nola gave up a season-high four runs in six innings of a loss at St. Louis on Sunday that snapped his five-game winning streak. The LSU product is 5-0 with a 2.06 ERA in five home starts while recording 35 strikeouts in 35 innings. Josh Donaldson is 3-for-3 with a home run and three walks against Nola, who was pounded for 11 runs (nine earned) in eight innings over two previous meetings with the Blue Jays.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia has drawn a walk in 63 straight games, its longest such run since 2009-10.
2. Phillies 1B Carlos Santana is 5-for-10 with a home run and two walks during a three-game hitting streak, raising his average from .186 to .205.
3. Major League Baseball extended the administrative leave of Blue Jays RHP Roberto Osuna through June 4 in connection with an assault charge.