Alec Bohm hit a three-run home run Wednesday night and the visiting Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4.
Kyle Schwarber added a two-run blast and Bryce Harper hit a solo shot for the Phillies in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Toronto’s Max Scherzer (1-4), making his first start since April 24, struck out the first batter of the game. He caught Schwarber looking at a changeup to become the 11th pitcher to reach 3,500 strikeouts. Scherzer had been out with right forearm and ankle issues.
After an ovation, Scherzer also struck out his second batter, Trea Turner, before Harper homered to left on a first-pitch fastball.
Schwarber and Turner started the third with singles and Bohm launched a 1-0 slider to left-center for a home run with two outs.
Mason Fluharty replaced Scherzer after Justin Crawford’s one-out infield single in the fourth. Schwarber greeted Fluharty with a homer to right-center on a 2-2 cutter.
Scherzer allowed five runs, five hits and three walks with four strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.
Myles Straw had three hits for the Blue Jays.
Jesus Luzardo (5-4) walked two with one out in the sixth. Brandon Valenzuela then stroked a two-out RBI single to right that scored Clement, who ran through a stop sign.
Luzardo allowed one run, four hits and four walks while striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings.
Philadelphia scored once in the seventh. Braydon Fisher walked Harper, who took third on Bohm’s one-out single and scored on Bryson Stott’s single to center.
The Blue Jays loaded the bases with no outs against Chase Shugart in their three-run seventh when Straw singled and Nathan Lukes and George Springer walked. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked to force in a run and Clement hit a sacrifice fly to the wall in right.
Brad Keller took over and Springer slid home on Kazuma Okamoto’s sacrifice fly to right fielder Adolis Garcia, who left the game after pulling a muscle in his right shoulder.
Jhoan Duran, pitching for the third straight game, overcame two singles with the help of a double play to earn his 17th save.
–Field Level Media
