Donaldson homers twice, leads Blue Jays past Phillies 8-5
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}PHILADELPHIA (AP) Josh Donaldson hit two homers, Edwin Encarnacion also went deep and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-5 Tuesday night.
The AL wild card-leading Blue Jays have won 13 of 15. They entered one game behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees.
The Phillies, who have the worst record in the majors, have lost four straight and five of six after winning 16 of 21 following the All-Star break.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Donaldson hit a drive off Aaron Nola into the second deck in left field in the first. His three-run shot in the sixth off Jeanmar Gomez (1-3) gave the Blue Jays a 7-5 lead. A loud group of Jays fans chanted ''MVP'' as he rounded the bases. Donaldson has 33 homers and leads the majors with 91 RBIs.
Jeff Francoeur hit a solo homer for Philadelphia.
Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey allowed five runs and nine hits in four-plus innings, becoming the first Jays starter to give up more than three earned runs in 21 games. Liam Hendricks (4-0) pitched out of a jam in the fifth to earn the win. Roberto Osuna pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 15 chances.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Nola gave up three runs and four hits in five innings. He left with a 5-3 lead.
The Jays started their rally off Elvis Araujo. Chris Colabello's RBI single cut it to 5-4. Donaldson's shot off Gomez made it 7-5 and Encarnacion connected for an 8-5 lead.
The Phillies took a 4-3 lead on Freddy Galvis' RBI triple in the fourth. Cody Asche's RBI single had tied it.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Dickey left after the Phillies loaded the bases on three straight hits, including two infield singles to first base. Hendricks entered and retired Francoeur on a double-play grounder that scored a run.
Ezequiel Carrera gave the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead on a two-run single with two outs in the third after Nola walked the bases loaded.
Cesar Hernandez hit a RBI single with two outs in the bottom half to cut it to 3-2.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}TRAINER'S ROOM
Phillies: Rookie 3B Maikel Franco was placed on the 15-day DL because of a broken left wrist. Franco was hit on the wrist last Tuesday at Arizona. He missed the next four games.
UP NEXT
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Blue Jays: LHP Mark Buehrle (13-5, 3.31) tries for his fifth straight win. He's 6-2 with a 3.50 ERA in nine career starts vs. Philadelphia.
Phillies: LHP Adam Morgan (3-4, 4.11) faces the Blue Jays for the second time. He allowed two runs in six innings in a 3-2 against them on July 28.