TORONTO (AP) — A rough big league debut couldn’t wipe the smile off Zach Eflin’s face.
Josh Donaldson hit a grand slam and finished with five RBIs, Edwin Encarnacion hit a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays routed Eflin and the Philadelphia Phillies 11-3 on Tuesday.
Starting in place of injured right-hander Vince Velasquez, Eflin (0-1) allowed nine runs, eight earned, and nine hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out two.
The eight earned runs were the most allowed by a Phillies rookie since Gavin Floyd gave up eight against the Mets on April 19, 2005.
Still, Eflin said he had “the time of my life.”
“It still was a dream come true,” Eflin said. “I was out there in front of 50,000 people playing the game that I love.”
Eflin began his outing by fanning Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista. He also struck out the third batter he faced, Edwin Encarnacion.
“I was pretty excited after the first couple of hitters,” Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. “He looked like he was right on the money, but he just didn’t make quality pitches after that.”
Donaldson doubled and scored in the first, doubled home a run in the second and hit his third career grand slam in the third. It was the second grand slam of the season for Donaldson, who also hit one April 8 against Boston. He reached for a fourth time in the seventh when he walked and scored on Encarnacion’s homer off Colton Murray. For Encarnacion, who sat out Monday with a sore right index finger, the blast was his fourth in four games.
Encarnacion’s two RBIs gave him a major league-best 56, one more than Boston’s David Ortiz.
Kevin Pillar hit a leadoff shot in the second and Ezequiel Carerra drilled a two-run shot in the third as Toronto won for the 11th time in 14 meetings with Philadelphia.
“Unfortunately, after that first inning, stuff kind of got out of hand,” Eflin said.
Philadelphia has lost five of six and 14 of 18.
Marcus Stroman (6-2) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings to win for the first time in four starts.
A struggling Stroman had posted a 7.58 ERA in his previous five starts but held the Phillies scoreless until Jimmy Paredes hit an RBI double in the sixth.
“I felt better,” Stroman said. “Not exactly where I want to be but looking forward to the next one.”
Stroman struck out six and got 11 of his 21 outs on ground balls.
“He located his pitches down in the strike zone very well,” Mackanin said. “To righties and lefties that slider was really diving.”
Cesar Hernadez hit a solo homer off Stroman in the seventh.
ROUGH ROAD
The Phillies have lost nine of 11 away from home.
ROSTER SHUFFLE
Following the game, Toronto designated LHP Scott Diamond for assignment and optioned LHP Aaron Loup to Triple-A Buffalo. The Blue Jays will make corresponding moves before Wednesday’s game at Philadelphia.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: 3B Maikel Franco (sprained right knee) sat for the second straight game. Mackanin said he hopes Franco can return Wednesday. Franco injured his knee during a rundown in the fourth inning Sunday, landing awkwardly after tagging out Washington’s Chris Heisey. Franco stayed in the game and hit a home run in the ninth.
Blue Jays: OF Michael Saunders left in the third with tightness in his right hamstring. … Bautista was at DH for the second straight game after missing the previous three with a sore right thigh.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (4-4, 4.34) starts when Toronto and Philadelphia meet Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park. Hellickson is 5-4 with a 3.45 ERA in 15 career starts against the Blue Jays.
Blue Jays: RHP Marco Estrada (4-2, 2.57) starts for Toronto on Wednesday. Estrada is unbeaten in eight starts and has own three straight decisions. He has a 6.15 ERA in 10 games against Philadelphia.
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