Phillies fall to Blue Jays to snap winning streaks

Final: Blue Jays 5, Phillies 3

All good things must come to an end, even for the surging first-place Phillies.

The offense, red-hot at home of late, ran into problems against Toronto starter Chris Bassitt, while a sixth-inning surge against right-hander Aaron Nola helped the Blue Jays down the Phillies, 5-3, on Wednesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park to snap an 11-game home winning streak for Philadelphia. The loss also ended a seven-game overall winning streak for the Phillies and secured a series split in the second of a quick-two game set.

The right-hander Bassitt tossed 6 2/3 solid innings of two-run ball, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out six batters. The Phillies had their chance to tack on, but Bassitt kept them from doing too much damage. He loaded the bases with no outs in the third, but escaped with just one run surrendered in the inning.

Philadelphia (26-12) had seven hits compared to the Blue Jays’ 12, scoring two of its runs on two sacrifice flies. Nola struck out seven on the mound for the Phillies, but gave up nine hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings. He was charged with three earned runs in Toronto’s go-ahead top of the sixth.

Bryson Stott, who had two RBIs and a run scored, hit a double in the bottom of the ninth inning to bring the Phillies within two runs and bring the winning run to the plate, but Jordan Romano got himself out of the jam to close out the game for Toronto

The Phillies will have a day off Thursday following the loss before heading to Miami for a five-game road trip, starting with a three-game series against the Marlins beginning Friday.

Highlights

• Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. opened up the scoring in the top of the third inning with a line-drive RBI single.
• Schwarber knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly as Blue Jays right fielder George Springer made a tremendous diving catch in foul territory, securing the out but allowing a run to cross the plate.
• The Blue Jays got to Nola in a three-run, five-hit sixth inning as Bo Bichette and Davis Schneider connected for back-to-back RBI singles. Left-hander Matt Strahm then allowed an inherited runner to score on a Kevin Kiermaier base hit to left that shortstop Edmundo Sosa should’ve knocked down.

RISP = Rallying In South Philly pic.twitter.com/vqKC4G4o5h

— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 8, 2024

• Stott brought the Phillies within two in the bottom of the seventh with a sac fly to make it 4-2, but Kiermaier added another RBI single to extend Toronto’s lead back to three in the eighth.
• Stott hit an RBI double in the ninth to threaten, but the Blue Jays held on.

Notes

• The bottom three hitters in the order played a key part in plating the Phillies’ first run. Bryson Stott battled for a 10-pitch walk, Sosa drew a rare walk of his own and No. 9 batter Johan Rojas bounced back from a foul bunt attempt to deliver a two-strike single to center. This set up the bases loaded with no outs for Schwarber to bring Stott home, although Philadelphia couldn’t get another across in the third.
• Whit Merrifield’s eight-game hitting streak also ended on Wednesday as he grounded out to third base as a pinch hitter in the eighth and popped out to end the game in the ninth.
• Despite the loss, the Phillies went 5-1 on this home stand after a sweep of the Giants and this split with the Blue Jays.

Ticket IQ Next Game

• Friday, May 10 vs. Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park
• 7:10 p.m. Eastern
• NBC 10
• SportsRadio 94 WIP

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