Blue Jays 8 Phillies 7
PHILADELPHIA — Rod Barajas turned the boos directed toward him into jeers for the slumping World Series champions.
Barajas led off the ninth inning with a pinch-hit, tiebreaking homer and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-7 on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep.
“You try to give your best effort every time,” said Barajas, an unpopular player in Philadelphia since playing here in 2007. “I have a job to do. If it’s against the Phillies or the Royals, you have to produce.”
Raul Chavez and Adam Lind also homered for the injury-riddled Blue Jays, who were 0-6 in interleague play when they arrived in Philadelphia.
Jayson Werth, Jimmy Rollins, John Mayberry Jr. and pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs went deep for the Phillies, who dropped to 13-19 at home hours after putting slugger Raul Ibanez on the disabled list.
The NL East leaders are a major league-best 23-9 on the road, but have struggled all year at a usually sold-out Citizens Bank Park.
After the Phillies rallied for two runs in the eighth, Barajas drove one out to dead centre off Ryan Madson (2-2). Filling in for injured closer Brad Lidge, Madson blew a save Tuesday night.
Barajas had a key hit in each game of the series, including a homer off Jamie Moyer on Wednesday night. Barajas hit a pair of homers, including a grand slam, in a victory here last year.
Barajas drew the wrath of Phillies fans in May 2007 when he failed to crouch low enough to block the plate, allowing Hanley Ramirez to slide underneath him with the tying run in the ninth inning of a game at Florida. He’s been booed by the unforgiving Phillies fans ever since.
Jason Frasor (5-0) got one out for the win and Jeremy Accardo recorded two outs to earn his first save of the season on the day he was called up from triple-A Las Vegas. The Blue Jays used seven relievers after top prospect Brad Mills lasted 3 2-3 innings in his major league debut.
“We came in here and swept one of the better teams in baseball and we struggle against other teams,” Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said. “That is why you show up.”