Game #51 Toronto Blue Jays (24-27) @ Philadelphia Phillies (28-20) - game recap

Justin Smoak was 2-4 at the plate, including a big 2 run HR as the Blue Jays defeated the Phillies 5-4

More interleague play! The Blue Jays are 1-1 after identical 12-1 scoresvs. the Mets a couple weeks back. The Phillies are surging with a 28-19 record heading into this one. The Blue Jays are slowly getting healthy again. Jaime Garcia will make his start Saturday after missing a turn with a tight forearm. Randal Grichuk and Aledmys Diaz look not much further behind him. The Blue Jays are looking to get back on track after a rough 1 win in 7 games home stand. Here is tonight's game recap.

Game highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring as Teoscar Hernandez singled home Josh Donaldson
• The next batter Yangervis Solarte doubled to score Hernandez
• The next batter, Kevin Pillar doubled home Solarte
• The Phillies got on the board in the bottom of the third as pitcher Zach Eflin helped himself with a solo HR
• The Blue Jays added 2 more runs on a Justin Smoak 2 run HR that also scored Curtis Granderson
• Four batters later, Russell Martin singled home Solarte
• Zach Eflin pitching line: 4.2IP 9H 6R (5 earned) 1BB 7K 96 pitches (70 for strikes)
• The Phillies got 2 back in the bottom of the 6th Carlos Santana crushed a 2 run HR to right scoring Odubel Herrera
• Sam Gaviglio pitching line: 6IP 3H 3R (all earned) 2BB 3K 84 pitches (58 for strikes)
• Rhys Hoskins doubled home Cesar Hernandez in the bottom of the 8th
• The Phillies got within 1 in the bottom of the 9th as Jorge Alfaro scored on a wild pitch by Ryan Tepera
• Ryan Tepera picked up the save, the first one since the Roberto Osuna arrest
• Final score: Blue Jays 6 Phillies 5

My take: 

• Sam Gaviglio had a solid outing throwing 6 innings of 3 hit ball and he hit a double in his first AB tonight. Gaviglio looks like a better option as a spot starter than Joe Biagini at this point. He may get one or two more starts depending on the health of Marcus Stroman and Jaime Garcia.
• The bats came around today. Every starter, except Gio Urshela had a hit today. At the same time Blue Jay batters had 11 strikeouts, which is still too many. Hopefully this wasn't a one off and a sign of things to come.
• The bullpen bent but didn't break today. The Phillies loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with one out but Ryan Tepera struck out Rhys Hoskins and got the Phillies best hitter, Odubel Herrera to ground out to second on the first pitch. We are clearly seeing the effects of an overworked bullpen. Both Tepera and Tyler Clippard have made 27 appearances, 2nd in the majors. The Roberto Osuna situation is not helping things either. His absence is forcing pitchers to pitch in situations that are not their strength.
• Up next Lefty Jaime Garcia returns to the mound after missing a start with a forearm injury. The Phillies will counter with righty Aaron Nola.