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Bench Warmer
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.
"I'm tired of hearing about it. I'm done talking about losing at home," first baseman Ryan Howard said.
After the Phillies rallied for two runs in the eighth, Barajas drove one out to straightaway center 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.
"I can't believe it," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of Barajas' success against his former team. "Since he's gone there, he's caught better and hit a lot better."
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 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."
Down 7-5, the Phillies came back in the eighth. Dobbs ripped a solo shot off Brandon League with one out. Rollins chased League with a two-out double off the left-field wall, and Shane Victorino's RBI single off Frasor tied it.
The Blue Jays squandered several opportunities with runners in scoring position, including a big one in the eighth. Marco Scutaro singled to start the inning against Clay Condrey. Aaron Hill reached when third baseman Pedro Feliz booted his potential double-play grounder for an error. Vernon Wells then looped a single to right to drive in Scutaro, and Scott Rolen followed with an RBI double to make it 7-5.
Tyler Walker came in with the bases loaded and escaped further damage. Wells was thrown out at the plate by Mayberry on Alex Rios' fly to right. Chavez grounded out to end the inning.
Called up Wednesday to replaced injured Casey Janssen in the rotation, Mills became the fourth Toronto starter to make his debut this season. The lefty allowed four runs and six hits.
Phillies starter Joe Blanton gave up four runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He broke a string of four straight quality starts.
Lind's RBI single in the seventh off reliever J.C. Romero after Rolen doubled off Chan Ho Park tied it at 5.
Rollins, mired in a season-long slump, put the Phillies ahead 4-3 in the fourth when he lined a two-run homer.
Mayberry connected off reliever Dirk Hayhurst in the sixth to make it 5-3. Mayberry was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley before the game to replace Ibanez, put on the 15-day disabled list with a groin injury.
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.
"I'm tired of hearing about it. I'm done talking about losing at home," first baseman Ryan Howard said.
After the Phillies rallied for two runs in the eighth, Barajas drove one out to straightaway center 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.
"I can't believe it," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of Barajas' success against his former team. "Since he's gone there, he's caught better and hit a lot better."
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 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."
Down 7-5, the Phillies came back in the eighth. Dobbs ripped a solo shot off Brandon League with one out. Rollins chased League with a two-out double off the left-field wall, and Shane Victorino's RBI single off Frasor tied it.
The Blue Jays squandered several opportunities with runners in scoring position, including a big one in the eighth. Marco Scutaro singled to start the inning against Clay Condrey. Aaron Hill reached when third baseman Pedro Feliz booted his potential double-play grounder for an error. Vernon Wells then looped a single to right to drive in Scutaro, and Scott Rolen followed with an RBI double to make it 7-5.
Tyler Walker came in with the bases loaded and escaped further damage. Wells was thrown out at the plate by Mayberry on Alex Rios' fly to right. Chavez grounded out to end the inning.
Called up Wednesday to replaced injured Casey Janssen in the rotation, Mills became the fourth Toronto starter to make his debut this season. The lefty allowed four runs and six hits.
Phillies starter Joe Blanton gave up four runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He broke a string of four straight quality starts.
Lind's RBI single in the seventh off reliever J.C. Romero after Rolen doubled off Chan Ho Park tied it at 5.
Rollins, mired in a season-long slump, put the Phillies ahead 4-3 in the fourth when he lined a two-run homer.
Mayberry connected off reliever Dirk Hayhurst in the sixth to make it 5-3. Mayberry was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley before the game to replace Ibanez, put on the 15-day disabled list with a groin injury.
