Blue Jays score 13 runs, demolish Phillies in series finale
Toronto registers 17 hits and 5 HRs, both season highs
The Toronto Blue Jays again showed their offensive prowess Thursday night and set some season highs in the process.
J.A. Happ allowed three hits and an unearned run in seven innings and the Blue Jays hit five home runs in a 13-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Kevin Pillar hit two homers and Edwin Encarnacion, Michael Saunders and Devon Travis added one apiece for the Blue Jays, who set season marks with the five homers and 17 hits.
"We're hot. We're playing good baseball right now," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.
Happ (8-3) struck out five in improving to 4-0 against his former team.
"I love coming back here," Happ said.
"He set the tone," Gibbons said. "He was really, really good. But he has been. He's been like that all year so you always feel good when he takes the mound."
Right now, Toronto is feeling good whoever takes the mound.
It was the Blue Jays' third straight win over the Phillies and they have outscored them 31-7 in those games.
Encarnacion hit his sixth homer in as many games and his 18th of the season in the first inning against Phillies starter Aaron Nola (5-6). Encarnacion has eight home runs and 21 RBIs in June.
"Really, every year he goes through one of these," Gibbons said. "And he's dangerous. If you give him anything to hit there's nobody better."
Pillar, who was 3 for 5 with three RBIs, homered in the seventh and eighth innings.
"We've got some of the best hitters in the world on this team," Pillar said. "It's fun for me to say I'm a part of it and contribute."
Nola followed up his shortest career outing in his last start with an even shorter one Thursday. The Phillies ace lasted just three innings plus four batters. He allowed eight hits and eight runs (six earned) to go with three walks and five strikeouts. He has allowed 15 hits in his last 6 2/3 innings.
"His breaking ball was flat," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "He just doesn't look the same."
Toronto led 8-0 after four innings.
Every Blue Jays starter recorded a hit as Toronto outhit the Phillies 17-5.