Blue Jays get spanked by visiting Philadelphia Phillies in a measuring stick game

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Reality arrived for the Blue Jays in the most harsh and abrupt ways imaginable following a five-game winning streak triggered by Bo Bichette’s pinch-hit homer in Texas.

Everyone knew the Jays weren’t as good as the team that bludgeoned the anemic Athletics in a four-game sweep.

Everyone knew a three-game set against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies would provide a measuring stick for a Jays team that entered Tuesday’s series opener sitting three games over .500, a record built primarily on the strength of winning seven straight at home.

In terms of a litmus test, the Jays failed in falling 8-3 to the Phillies.

If there was a bright spot to the lopsided loss, it involved the Jays’ bullpen and how it kept the visitors scoreless.

That is until Trea Turner took Erik Swanson deep on a solo blast with two outs in the eighth inning, Turner’s second homer on the night and third overall by the visitors.

The following are three takeaways on a night the Phillies blew the game open by scoring seven runs through the opening two innings, including six in the first inning, a night when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. extended his MLB-best on-base streak to 33 games following a walk in the third inning.

Bruised and broken Bowden

It’s back to the drawing board for Bowden Francis, who hasn’t picked up a win since his first start of the season way back on March 31 when he faced Washington Nationals.

In his intervening starts, too many home runs have been yielded, few nights when he’s pitched deep into games and an overall question when it concerns Francis’ exact role and whether he should be in the major leagues at this moment.

Based on Tuesday’s outing, he should be a candidate to be sent down to the minors. Given the dearth of starters on the big-league team, such a move would be deemed as the ultimate sign of desperation.

It’s never a good sign when a pitcher begins his outing by issuing a four-pitch walk.

It only got worse for Francis, who gave up six runs to the Phillies in the first inning.

Francis never did make it out of the second inning before he was mercifully pulled.

The two homers surrendered increased his season total to 19, while six of the seven runs yielded were earned as Francis endured a truly miserable outing.

He’s better than his Tuesday start, but the jury is still out on Francis, who looks nothing like the pitcher from late last season when he took two no-hit bids into the ninth inning.

Taxing a bullpen is never ideal, but something needs to be done with Francis.

Schneider shines

Schneiders is a well-known brand that makes hot dogs.

On Loonie Dogs Night, how fitting that Davis Schneider would step up when others were overmatched.

One of the few early-inning hits allowed by Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez surrendered was an infield hit to Schneider.

Schneider’s next hit went into the outfield seats as the Jays scored their first run after Philly posted seven.

Schneider’s home run was his first of the season. He started in left field and batted seventh in the order.

Schneider was on the opening day roster, but his struggles prompted the team to assign Schneider to triple-A.

When he’s slugging, Schneider has a role on the Jays. When he’s not, a problem exists and it’s usually addressed by sending Schneider to the Buffalo Bisons.

Barger bumble

With Andres Gimenez back in the lineup following a stint on the injured list and starting at second base, the roster re-shuffling was expected.

Optics and finances dictated Gimenez’s starting, but at least the Jays were able to keep Ernie Clement, who started at third, and Addison Barger, who started in right field, in the lineup.

The Barger-Clement tandem was lights out during the Jays’ sweep of the Athletics.

Barger has a rocket for an arm, but refinement needs to be made and discretion observed.

With Bryce Harper tagging to third, Barger unleashed one of his patented fastballs from the outfield.

This time, it skipped past Clement at third, allowing Harper to cross home plate with Philly’s seventh run.

While it was commendable for Barger to try to get the out, it was also foolish because the chances were slim to none.

It would cost the Jays a run.

Given the team’s inefficiency at the plate, preventing one run from scoring doesn’t seem that important.

In the big picture, Barger has to be more attentive to the game’s circumstances.

His physical skills are undeniable.

In the eighth inning, he belted his sixth homer of the season, a two-run blast that exploded off his bat.

Barger and Schneider combined to record four of Toronto’s five hits.

The Jays drew six walks.

Up next

The second game of the three-game series is set for Wednesday; the lopsided score did not merit an appearance from Phillies reliever Jordan Romano, back for the first time since the Jays non-tendered the Markham native; the Jays did pay tribute to their former closer with a video salute.

Roster updates

Gimenez (right quadriceps strain) and backup catcher Tyler Heineman (concussion) were activated before the game. Infielder Michael Stefanic and catcher Ali Sanchez were designated for assignment … Pitcher Max Scherzer threw a live bullpen session before the game. He likely will continue his comeback attempt on the weekend in a simulated game or a Florida Complex League game.