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Instant Reaction: Cristopher Sánchez quiets Blue Jays’ bats in series opener
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Jun 9, 2026, 07:00 EDTUpdated: Jun 9, 2026, 08:42 EDT
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Backed by left-hander Cristopher Sánchez’s seven strong innings, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2 in the series opener on Monday night. 
The Phillies’ offence staked Sánchez to an early 5-0 lead, and he was able to stymie the Blue Jays’ bats for much of the evening to end the Blue Jays’ two-game win streak and drop their record to 32-35. 
Sánchez, who recently completed a stretch of 50.2 straight scoreless innings, which is the longest ever by a left-hander, and fifth longest in MLB history turned in a pitching line 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K. Sánchez now holds a 8-2 record, and an ERA of 1.54, the second lowest mark in the majors, trailing only Milwaukee Brewers Jacob Misiorowski who has a 1.50 ERA. 
After tossing a scoreless first inning, Blue Jays’ starter Patrick Corbin ran into trouble in the top of the second inning. Phillies shortstop Bryson Stott doubled on a line drive to center field, winning a nine-pitch at-bat to set the stage for Adolis García. García got ahead in the count 2-1 and made Corbin pay, driving a 78.2 MPH slider 406 feet into the left field seats for his seventh home run of the season. 
To begin the third inning, Corbin’s control evaded the left-hander, opening the frame with two walks and a hit by pitch. Alec Bohm and J.T. Realmuto followed with singles before a Stott walk pushed the Phillies’ lead to 5-0. 
After needing 79 pitches to get through his three frames, Blue Jays manager John Schneider opted to go to his bullpen, summoning fellow lefty Adam Macko. Corbin wrapped up his day with a line of 3.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, dropping his record to 2-3 and raising his ERA to 4.55 on the season. 
In his long-awaited debut with the organization, right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson dazzled. After being acquired from the Minnesota Twins on June 4 and joining the Blue Jays’ active roster last Friday, Woods Richardson was brought in on Monday to open the top of the fifth inning. 
Woods Richardson worked four shutout innings, allowing only one hit and recording three strikeouts to help save the Blue Jays’ bullpen in the opening game of the three-game set with the Phillies. The 25-year-old entered his first Blue Jays outing with an ERA of 7.74, but after retiring Stott on a 1-3 groundout to end the top of the eighth inning, his mark sat at 7.14. 
With both Dylan Cease and Max Scherzer set to return this week, and Shane Bieber aiming for around 70 pitches in his second rehab start with the Buffalo Bisons, the Blue Jays’ pitching staff is about to get very crowded. An improved velocity and an impressive debut will go a long way in helping keep the 25-year-old on the active roster. 
While much of the Blue Jays’ lineup struggled on Monday, Ernie Clement continued to build on what is becoming a very strong 2026 regular season. After Sánchez struck out Clement in his first at-bat, he responded by opening the bottom of the fifth inning by driving a 95.7 MPH sinker to left center field for his seventh home run of the year. 
Clement singled in his third at-bat off Sánchez on a line drive to center field, capping his day with a 2-for-4 showing against one of the best arms in MLB. For the season, Clement is batting .310 and has recorded 79 hits, the most in the American League. 
The Blue Jays will look to rebound on Tuesday night when Dylan Cease makes his return from the 15-day IL. The Phillies will turn to Zack Wheeler for his ninth start of the season. First pitch is 7:07 p.m. EST at Rogers Centre. 

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