Teoscar Hernandez hit two two-run homers to help John Schneider make a successful debut as interim manager and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 8-2 Wednesday night.
Schneider, who was promoted from bench coach, replaced Charlie Montoyo, who was fired earlier in the day. Montoyo had managed the Blue Jays since 2019.
The Blue Jays swept the two-game set with the Phillies to open a six-game homestand that followed a 1-6 road trip.
The Phillies have lost four in a row.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a solo home run and two RBIs for Toronto.
Bryson Stott hit a two-run home run for the Phillies.
Blue Jays right-hander Ross Stripling (5-3) allowed two unearned runs and two hits while striking out six in seven innings.
Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler (8-5) allowed six runs, seven hits and one walk in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four.
Toronto scored once in the third. Matt Chapman led off with a walk, took third on Santiago Espinal’s single and scored on Raimel Tapia’s fielder’s choice grounder.
Guerrero led off the bottom of the fourth with his 20th home run of the season. Alejandro Kirk singled and Hernandez hit his 10th home run of the season.
Tapia, George Springer and Bo Bichette started the bottom of the fifth with singles to score one run. Guerrero hit a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 6-0.
Philadelphia’s Nick Duron pitched around two singles in the sixth in his major league debut.
Stripling had allowed only Nick Castellanos’ fourth-inning double until Rhys Hoskins reached first base on Bichette’s throwing error on a leadoff grounder to shortstop in the seventh. Stott hit his sixth home run of the season with two out.
Tim Mayza pitched a perfect eighth for the Blue Jays.
Bubby Rossman made his major league debut in the bottom of the eighth and allowed a walk and the 11th home run of the season by Hernandez.
Trevor Richards struck out the side in the ninth.
Casey Candaele, who was manager at Triple-A Buffalo, was appointed interim Blue Jays bench coach.
–Field Level Media