Cristopher Sánchez strikes out 10 as the Phillies top Blue Jays

TORONTO - Cristopher Sánchez glanced at the Phillies dugout and signaled, one more.

He was already at 101 pitches in the seventh inning, and Orion Kerkering had already warmed up in the bullpen. The Toronto Blue Jays had just brought switch-hitting catcher Brandon Valenzuela in the game as a pinch-hitter with two runners on.

Interim manager Don Mattingly decided to trust Sánchez and granted his request for one more. And like he had all night, Sánchez rebounded from adversity to induce a groundout from Valenzuela to end the inning.

Sánchez allowed two runs, including his first homer allowed since April 23, but the Phillies offense did just enough for the 5-2 series-opening victory over the Blue Jays.

He had cruised early in his start, retiring the first six Blue Jays he faced. But after a long top of the third while the Phillies worked long at-bats against lefty Patrick Corbin, Sánchez's command initially wasn't as sharp.

He allowed his first hit of the day, a leadoff double to Myles Straw, and then fell behind in the count to Tyler Heineman. But he battled back to induce consecutive groundouts, conceding a run, and then struck out George Springer.

Ernie Clement led off fifth inning with a homer, but Sánchez responded right away by retiring the next three Blue Jays. He helped himself out with a strong defensive play on a grounder hit back to him. Sánchez bobbled the ball at first, but recovered, barehanded it, and fired it to Harper who picked it for the out.

He also picked up right fielder Adolis García in the sixth inning. Yohendrick Piñango, the Blue Jays' nine-hole hitter, doubled and then advanced to third when García misplayed the ball off the wall. Sánchez struck out the top of the Blue Jays order - Springer, Nathan Lukes and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. - to leave Piñango at third base.

Sánchez struck out 10, five of which came in the sixth and seventh inning.

The Phillies only had six hits, including two in the second inning. Bryson Stott won a nine-pitch battle against Corbin with a double to center field before García blasted his third homer in the last five games to put the Phillies up, 2-0.

Patience against Corbin then paid off in the third. After Kyle Schwarber flew out to center field to start the inning, the next seven Phillies reached base - walk, walk, hit by pitch, single, single, walk and fielder's choice - and they scored three more runs.

Brad Keller sidestepped a walk and a single for a scoreless eighth, while Jhoan Duran picked up his 16th save of the season in the ninth.

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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 9:43 PM.