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Heartbreaking Loss for Blue Jays as Phillies Take Game 1
The Toronto Blue Jays’ five-game winning streak came to a screeching halt on Tuesday night, as the Philadelphia Phillies stormed out to a six-run lead and never looked back, winning 8-3. The loss was a tough pill to swallow for the Blue Jays, who had been riding high on their recent success.
Francis Falters in Start
Toronto starter Bowden Francis had a disastrous outing, walking the first batter he faced on four pitches and things only got worse from there. Trea Turner and Bryce Harper followed with solo homers, and the Phillies sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring six runs and essentially putting the game out of reach.
"It looked like they were on his fastball and you’ve got to make some adjustments when you see that," said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. "I think it just came down to location really."
Francis, who emerged as a feel-good story last season with a dominant second half, has struggled to carry that momentum into the 2025 campaign. He recorded only five outs and has dropped his last five decisions, leaving many to wonder what’s gone wrong for the talented right-hander.
Phillies’ Aggressive Approach Pays Off
The Phillies came out aggressive, taking advantage of Francis’ mislocation and sending the ball flying out of the park. Turner added another homer in the eighth for his first multihomer game of the season, and the Phillies outhit the Blue Jays 11-5.
"We’ve seen the tools for a couple years, and this is a pretty good run that he’s on," Schneider said of Turner.
Blue Jays’ Bright Spots
While the loss was tough to swallow, there were some bright spots for the Blue Jays. Addison Barger became the first Blue Jay to homer in four straight games since Teoscar Hernandez in August 2021, and Davis Schneider also went deep for Toronto.
Long reliever Eric Lauer allowed just a single walk over four shutout innings, providing a much-needed spark for the Blue Jays’ bullpen.
Injury Updates and Roster Moves
Before the game, the Blue Jays reinstated second baseman Andres Gimenez (quad) and backup catcher Tyler Heineman (concussion) from the injured list. Infielder Michael Stefanic and catcher Ali Sanchez were designated for assignment.
What’s Next for the Blue Jays?
The Blue Jays will look to bounce back on Wednesday night, as they face the Phillies in Game 2 of the series. Jose Berrios, Kevin Gausman, and Chris Bassitt have anchored a starting rotation that is missing Max Scherzer (thumb), who’s still likely at least a few weeks away from returning.
A steadying presence in the fourth spot would be most welcome for a 31-29 team trying to stay above the .500 mark. Can the Blue Jays regroup and take the series, or will the Phillies continue to roll? Only time will tell.
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Content originally published by globalnews.ca
