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The Blue Jays’ red-hot run cooled with a lopsided 8-0 loss to the Phillies during Friday’s series opener. Kyle Schwarber hit a three-run homer and Ranger Suarez struck out six over seven shutout innings to power Philadelphia to its third win in four games.
Blue Jays starter Kevin Gausman gave up four runs, all in the second inning, on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts over five innings.
Toronto has won 13 of its past 17 games and sits second in the American League East with a 38-31 record, 4.5 games back of the division-leading New York Yankees.
Some positive news Friday for the Blue Jays was Max Scherzer throwing 56 pitches over 4.1 innings during his first rehab start with triple-A Buffalo. The three-time Cy Young Award winner signed as a free agent with Toronto but was placed on the injured list in late March due to right thumb inflammation.
Francis (2-8, 6.18 ERA) is looking for his first win in nearly two months. The 29-year-old has six losses and three no-decisions over his past nine starts.
He was roughed up when faced the Phillies last week at the Rogers Centre, allowing seven runs, six earned, on seven hits in just 1.2 innings of work.
Francis has conceded 19 home runs, two more than his total from last season.
Philadelphia will send Cristopher Sanchez to the hill. The left-handed pitcher holds a 5-2 record and 3.10 ERA and picked up the win when he went head-to-head against Francis on June 3. Sanchez allowed just one run on four hits during the 8-3 victory.
The Phillies remain without Bryce Harper, who is on the 10-day injured list due to right wrist inflammation. The two-time NL MVP fielded grounders before Friday’s game but has yet to throw a ball or swing a bat.
