TORONTO – The 20,000th game in Philadelphia Phillies history wasn’t exactly one for the record book.
Edwin Encarnacion hit two of Toronto’s season-high five home runs and the Blue Jays won their eighth consecutive game over Philadelphia, beating the Phillies 12-6 on Thursday night.
Philadelphia lost twice at home to Toronto before crossing the border for two more defeats that left manager Ryne Sandberg frustrated.
“We weren’t fundamentally sound for the four games,” Sandberg said. “A lot of little things, little baserunning things, a base here and there, some defense, some pitches in the middle of the plate, pitching behind in the count. A lot of fundamental things we didn’t execute.”
Second baseman Chase Utley agreed.
“We didn’t play solid baseball,” Utley said. “We made some mistakes in the field.”
Sandberg said he would speak to the team Friday before the opener of a three-game road series against the New York Mets.
“We’ll talk, we’ll talk,” he said.
A.J. Burnett allowed season worsts of nine hits, including three homers, and seven runs in six innings as the Phillies lost their fourth straight, matching their longest slump of the season.
Burnett came in 2-0 with a 0.98 ERA over his previous four starts, but wasn’t at his best against his former team. Burnett (2-2), who lost for the first time since April 6 at Chicago, walked two and struck out four.
“Balls ran over the plate tonight,” Burnett said. “I wasn’t on the corners at all.”
Burnett said he was disappointed not to be able to halt his team’s losing streak.
“You want to come in and stop the bleeding and set the tone and that wasn’t there,” he said.
The Phillies became the fourth major league team to play 20,000 games. The Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants franchises have all played more than 20,000.
Philadelphia’s record is 9,406 wins, 10,480 losses and 114 ties or no decisions.
Juan Francisco, Adam Lind and Colby Rasmus also went deep to help Toronto extend its winning streak to a season-best five games. Encarnacion hit a leadoff shot in the second inning against Burnett, his 200th career homer, and added a two-run drive off Luis Garcia in the seventh for his 12th multihomer game.
Francisco followed Encarnacion’s second home run with a shot to center field, his second in two days, as the Blue Jays went back-to-back for the first time this season.
Lind hit a two-run homer in his return from the disabled list and Rasmus added a solo drive as the Blue Jays went deep for the eighth straight game. Toronto’s 49 home runs lead the American League. Colorado entered play Thursday with a major league-high 50.
“We are some kind of hot right now,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “You put us in this ballpark, it’s a home run heaven here. It’s tough to pitch to. Everyone is feeding off each other.”
Jose Reyes scored twice and stole two bases for the Blue Jays.
R.A. Dickey (3-3) allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings to win for the second time in three starts. The knuckleballer walked three and struck out a season-high eight.
“It’s encouraging to punch people out and keep guys off balance and feel crisp,” Dickey said.
Aaron Loup got one out in the seventh, Marcus Stroman worked 1 1-3 innings and Esmil Rogers gave up three runs in the ninth, including Ryan Howard’s two-run homer.
NOTES: Philadelphia also lost four straight from April 6-10. … The Phillies recalled Garcia from Triple-A Lehigh Valley before the game and sent RHP Shawn Camp outright to their top farm team. … Philadelphia INF Freddy Galvis was optioned to Lehigh Valley following the game. A corresponding roster move will be made Friday. … Toronto optioned RHP Chad Jenkins to Triple-A Buffalo to make room for Lind. … Blue Jays 3B Brett Lawrie (right hamstring) missed his third straight game. … Phillies RHP Roberto Hernandez (2-1) faces Mets RHP Jenrry Mejia (3-0) on Friday. … The Blue Jays begin a four-game series against the Angels on Friday. RHP Dustin McGowan (2-1) faces Los Angeles RHP Garrett Richards (3-0).
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