PHILADELPHIA — Jeanmar Gomez grooved a 3-0 pitch to the wrong batter.
Josh Donaldson hit two homers, Edwin Encarnacion also went deep and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 Tuesday night.
The American League wild card-leading Blue Jays have won 13 of 15. They entered one game behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees.
The Phillies, who have the worst record in the majors, have lost four straight and five of six after winning 16 of 21 following the All-Star break.
Donaldson hit a drive off Aaron Nola into the second deck in left field in the first. His three-run shot off Gomez (1-3) gave the Blue Jays a 7-5 lead in the sixth. A loud group of Jays fans chanted “MVP” as he rounded the bases. Donaldson has 33 homers and leads the majors with 91 RBIs.
“He’s been good all year,” Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said of Gomez. “He had a little hiccup.”
Donaldson was waiting for a pitch he could drive from the sinkerballer.
“I didn’t want to swing 3-0 and hit a groundball, possibly a double play,” he said.
Jeff Francoeur hit a solo homer for Philadelphia.
Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey allowed five runs and nine hits in four-plus innings, becoming the first Jays starter to give up more than three earned runs in 21 games. Liam Hendricks (4-0) pitched out of a jam in the fifth to earn the win. Roberto Osuna pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 15 chances.
Nola gave up three runs and four hits in five innings. He left with a 5-3 lead.
“I got myself in trouble in the third and they took advantage,” Nola said.
The Jays started their sixth-inning rally off Elvis Araujo. Chris Colabello’s RBI single cut it to 5-4. Donaldson’s shot off Gomez made it 7-5 and Encarnacion connected for an 8-5 lead.
The Phillies took a 4-3 lead on Freddy Galvis’ RBI triple in the fourth. Cody Asche’s RBI single had tied it.
Dickey left after the Phillies loaded the bases on three straight hits, including two infield singles to first base. Hendricks entered and retired Francoeur on a double-play grounder that scored a run.
“Our offense continues to score runs,” Mackanin said. “Unfortunately our pitching isn’t where we want it to be.”
Ezequiel Carrera gave the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead on a two-run single with two outs in the third after Nola walked the bases loaded.
Cesar Hernandez hit an RBI single with two outs in the bottom half to cut it to 3-2.
STAYING PUT
Six-time All-Star 2B Chase Utley isn’t so eager to play for a contender. Utley has cleared waivers, but would have to waive his no-trade rights to accept a move.
“I don’t think that Chase has that desire to leave, frankly,” Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: Rookie 3B Maikel Franco was placed on the 15-day DL because of a broken left wrist. Franco was hit on the wrist last Tuesday at Arizona. He missed the next four games.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: LHP Mark Buehrle (13-5, 3.31) tries to win his fifth straight decision. He’s 6-2 with a 3.50 ERA in nine career starts vs. Philadelphia.
Phillies: LHP Adam Morgan (3-4, 4.11) faces the Blue Jays for the second time. He allowed two runs in six innings in a 3-2 against them on July 28.
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