TORONTO – Kyle Schwarber tied a major league record with his 13th leadoff home run of the season, Kody Clemens and JT Realmuto also hit home runs and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Wednesday to secure the win in the two-game series.
Cristopher Sánchez (10-9) had seven strikeouts in seven innings for the NL East-leading Phillies (83-56), who have won four games in a row and nine of 11.
A day after hitting three home runs, Schwarber hit a home run for the fourth time in seven at-bats and got his sixth hit in that span when he slammed a 1-0 pitch from right-hander Bowden Francis into the second deck in right, tying Alfonso Soriano’s total.
“We all know when Kyle gets hot, man, it’s fun to watch,” Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper said. “We’re excited to be able to see that. I love watching home runs and the way he does that. It’s super impressive.”
The 416-footer was Schwarber’s 32nd home run of the season and he tied Brady Anderson for ninth place with 44 home runs. Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson leads with 81.
“There’s a lot of talk about him not stealing bases, him not doing this, him not doing that,” manager Rob Thomson said. “But he walks and he hits.”
Schwarber finished the game 2 for 3. He hit a single in the second, struck out in the fifth and was replaced by a pinch runner after taking a walk in the eighth.
“The guy is special,” Francis said of Schwarber. “He’s great right now. It’s like throwing the ball to Vladdy.”
Harper left the field after being hit in the left elbow by a 92 mph fastball in the first inning. Edmundo Sosa pinch hittered for Harper at the start of the third inning and took over at third base while Clemens moved from third to first base.
“It got a little stiff, but he’s OK at the moment,” Thomson said. “I think he could have continued if he really needed to.”
Harper, 31, who recently admitted he is playing despite persistent wrist and elbow problems, said he was not convinced it was worth taking a few days off to rest.
“I just have a feeling I’m going to feel the same way,” Harper said.
Sánchez did not walk a single batter. He was credited with two runs and six hits, including five doubles.
Thomson thanked catcher Realmuto for spotting an early problem with Sánchez’s changeup and the left-hander for correcting it.
“He made the adjustment immediately and from then on it went perfectly,” Thomson said.
Jeff Hoffman threw the eighth inning and Carlos Estévez made his 24th save in 28 chances.
Daulton Varsho, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk gave Toronto a 2-1 lead by hitting back-to-back doubles off Sánchez in the first inning, but Clemens restored Philadelphia’s lead by hitting a home run in the second inning, his fourth of the season.
Francis (8-4) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings and lost for the first time since August 4.
Realmuto hit a home run against right-hander Ryan Burr in the top of the ninth inning, his 12th. Blue Jays relievers have allowed 82 home runs, the most in the major leagues.
Squad changes
The Phillies acquired the contract of RHP Nick Nelson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and sent RHP Tyler Phillips to Triple-A. Phillips allowed six runs on eight hits on Tuesday and struck out just two of the 10 batters he faced. To make room on the 40-man roster, RHP Michael Rucker was designated for assignment.
Next
Phillies: LHP Ranger Suárez (11-6, 3.02 ERA) is scheduled to start Thursday when Philadelphia travels to Miami to open a four-game series. RHP Adam Oller (1-1, 3.31) is scheduled to start for the Marlins.
Blue Jays: Toronto visits Atlanta on Friday to begin a three-game series.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
