Cole Hamels Helps Phillies Avoid Sweep; Juan Francisco Powers Toronto to 8-0 Win over Boston

Players of the Day for Thursday, July 24, 2014

American League

Juan Francisco

Tight is the AL East race. Toronto continues to put pressure on the Baltimore Orioles. With the O's Yankees and Blue Jays all posting wins on Thursday, Toronto remained tied for second with the Yankees, three games behind the front-running Orioles.

The Blue Jays hammered visiting Boston, 8-0, on 14 hits, six of which went for extra bases, two of those from Juan Francisco, who tripled, socked a two-run, third inning homer and added a single for a 3-for-4 day at the plate with four RBI, scoring twice.

The home run was Francisco's 15th of the season, to go with 39 RBI and a .242 average.

Cole Hamels

Toronto took the series, three games to one.

National League

Thanks to Cole Hamels, the Phillies avoided being swept at home by the Giants, ending their four game series on the wrong side of a 3-1 advantage for San Francisco.

Hamels allowed five hits and one earned run in eight solid innings to even his record at 5-5 in Philly's 2-1 victory. He struck out 10 and issued just one walk. Jonathan Papelbon came on in the ninth to earn his 24th save.

Around the plate all day, Hamels threw 90 of 116 pitches for strikes. He's been the victim of poor run support by his teammates, sporting a solid 2.72 ERA while the Phillies have sunk into last place in the NL East, 12 1/2 games out.