Rod Barajas’ pinch-hit homer helps Blue Jays beat Phillies 8-7 for 3-game sweep

Barajas’ homer helps Blue Jays sweep Phillies

PHILADELPHIA — Pinch-hitter Rod Barajas led off the ninth inning with a tiebreaking homer and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-7 on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep of the World Series champions.

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.

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, who played for the Phillies in 2007, had a key hit in each game of the series. He was booed whenever he came to the plate.

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.

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.

NOTES: Werth has six homers in his last six games against the Blue Jays. … Rollins drew his first walk since May 27. He went 87 plate appearances without a walk and has only 13 this season.