Zach Eflin Gets Rocked In Debut
TORONTO (AP) — Josh Donaldson hit a grand slam and finished with five RBIs, Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays routed the Philadelphia Phillies 11-3 on Tuesday.
Kevin Pillar hit a leadoff blast in the second and Ezequiel Carerra drilled a two-run shot in the third as Toronto roughed up Phillies rookie Zach Eflin (0-1) to win for the 11th time in 14 meetings with Philadelphia.
The 8 ER allowed by Zach Eflin are the most allowed by a Phillies pitcher in his major-league debut since Russ Miller in 1927.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) June 14, 2016
Donaldson doubled and scored in the first, doubled home a run in the second, and hit his third career grand slam in the third. It was the second grand slam of the season for Donaldson, who also hit one April 8 against Boston. He reached for a fourth time in the seventh when he walked and scored on Encarnacion's homer off Colton Murray. Encarnacion, who sat out Monday with a sore right index finger, the blast was his fourth in four games.
Encarnacion's two RBIs gave him an ML-best 56, one more than Boston's David Ortiz.
Marcus Stroman (6-2) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings to win for the first time in four starts.
Making his major league debut in place of injured right-hander Vince Velasquez, Eflin (0-1) allowed nine runs and nine hits in 2 2-3 innings. He walked three and struck out two.
Philadelphia has lost five of six and 14 of 18.
A struggling Stroman had posted a 7.58 ERA in his previous five starts but held the Phillies scoreless until Jimmy Paredes hit an RBI double in the sixth.
Cesar Hernadez hit a solo homer off Stroman in the seventh.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: 3B Maikel Franco (sprained right knee) sat for the second straight game. Franco injured his knee during a rundown in the fourth inning Sunday, landing awkwardly after tagging out Washington's Chris Heisey. Franco stayed in the game and hit a home run in the ninth.
Blue Jays: OF Michael Saunders left in the third with tightness in his right hamstring. ... Bautista was at DH for the second straight game after missing the previous three with a sore right thigh.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (4-4, 4.34) starts as Toronto and Philadelphia meet Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park. Hellickson is 5-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 15 career starts against the Blue Jays.
Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (4-2, 2.57) starts for Toronto on Wednesday. Estrada is unbeaten in eight starts and has own three straight decisions. He has a 6.15 ERA in 10 games against Philadelphia.
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