PHILADELPHIA – Matt Vierling capped a best-of-five night with an RBI single in the 10th inning on Wednesday to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Vierling hit five singles for the Phillies, who have lost their last five games.
“There’s nothing better than that,” Vierling said. We definitely needed it (this win). We worked hard all night. »
In the 10th, the bases were loaded when he hit the ball very high, over the mound, against Adam Cimber (10-6).
Andrew Bellatti (4-3) was the last of seven pitchers used by the Phillies.
Canadian Rob Thomson’s club maintained a two-and-a-half-game lead over Milwaukee in the race for the last available spot in the National series.
For the Jays, the outcome marred the evening when Vladimir Guerrero scored his 30th goal of the season.
Guerrero hit a long ball in the eighth as Whit Merrifield and George Springer singled.
Merrifield led off the inning with a one-hitter. Then, on a ground ball sent by Springer, shortstop Bryson Stott made his third error in two nights, throwing it off target at second base as he looked to start a double play.
Guerrero followed that up with a cannonball out of left field, against Seranthony Dominguez. The top seed has scored from a safe spot in the last 14 games.
The Phillies, however, created a three-run jam in the bottom of the eighth (JT Realmut’s home run, then one-run singles by Dalton Guthrie and Kyle Schwarber).
Toronto threatened first in the sixth, with runners on base and just one out. Alejandro Kirk, however, hit a double.
Kevin Gausman shutout the Phillies for six innings, allowing five hits, all singles. He struck out eight batters.
“It’s unfortunate how we lost, but we’re going to continue to play good baseball,” Gausman said. (Defeats like this) will happen. It’s baseball. You don’t want to be thinking about traps this time of year. Let’s go to the next game. »
In the third inning, Gausman took Vierling on the wrong foot at first base.
Philadelphia squandered an opportunity in the seventh, where the club had two runners on base and no outs. Schwarber was called on an option, then Tim Mayza struck out Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper.
On Thursday, the Blue Jays will begin a four-game series in Florida against the Rays.
Toronto, Seattle and Tampa Bay occupy the three additional playoff spots in America. The Orioles are four and a half games behind the Rays.