PHILADELPHIA — Drew Hutchison showed a veteran’s poise after blowing a big lead.
Juan Francisco’s sacrifice fly in the 10th inning lifted the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.
Cody Asche hit a game-tying grand slam off Hutchison in the sixth to help the Phillies rally from a 5-0 deficit, but they were swept in a two-game portion of a four-game, home-and-home interleague series. The teams meet Wednesday night in Toronto.
Hutchison took a five-run lead into the sixth, but couldn’t hold it. He stayed in the game after the slam, however, and retired the last seven batters he faced.
“It’s really good to know he trusts me enough to go back out there,” Hutchison said.
Hutchison allowed five runs and nine hits in eight innings in his seventh start since Tommy John surgery forced him to miss the 2013 season. Hutchison also got his first two career hits, both singles to left.
Jays manager John Gibbons was impressed with the way Hutchison pitched after giving up five runs.
“He showed us what he’s all about,” Gibbons said. “That’s how you find out about a guy. He had two dominant innings.”
Edwin Encarnacion and Colby Rasmus went deep for the Blue Jays. Marcus Stroman (1-0) pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings for his first career win. Aaron Loup got the final two outs for his second save.
“It’s an exciting feeling,” said Stroman, who pitched in front of some friends and family. “It was a lot of fun out there.”
Cole Hamels, stuck on 99 career wins, allowed five runs and 10 hits in six innings.
“He was not real sharp,” Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. “He fell behind and they didn’t miss his fastballs.”
Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista hit consecutive singles off Antonio Bastardo (3-2) to start the 10th. After Encarnacion popped out to second, Francisco’s shallow fly to centre scored Cabrera well ahead of Ben Revere’s weak, off-line throw.
Carlos Ruiz started the Phillies’ rally in the sixth with a double and Chase Utley singled. Ryan Howard followed with an RBI single to cut it to 5-1. But Hutchison got the next two outs before pinch-hitter John Mayberry Jr. walked to load the bases. Asche then ripped a shot to the seats in right for his first career slam, tying it at 5.
“The biggest mistake was the walk,” Hutchison said. “It’s something I can’t do again. A home run can happen, but a walk is in your control.”
Asche finished 4 for 4.
Encarnacion drove one deep into the seats in left leading off the second to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead.
Jose Bautista led off the fourth with a double to left, advanced to third on Encarnacion’s single through a shift and scored on Francisco’s grounder for a 2-0 lead.
Rasmus hit a two-run shot out to right-centre to make it 4-0 in the fourth. Steve Tolleson’s RBI double in the sixth put the Blue Jays up 5-0.
Hamels hasn’t looked too sharp in three starts after beginning the season on the disabled list because of biceps tendinitis. The three-time All-Star lefty was supposed to start Sunday but the flu pushed him back two days.