Location: Philadelphia, Pa. | Ballpark: Citizens Bank Park (43,500) | Spring Training: Clearwater, Fla.
Owner: Bill Giles, David Montgomery | GM: Pat Gillick | Manager: Charlie Manuel | World Championships: 1
Jayson Werth had seen other hitters summoned from the dugout to give a curtain call to fans after hitting a big home run, but he'd never been asked to do it himself.
On Friday night, he gave two.
Werth also gave a performance for the ages, tying a Phillies record with eight RBI and becoming the 18th player in club history to hit three home runs in a game, in a 10-3 rout of the Blue Jays. He became only the fifth Phillies player to knock in eight runs, joining Kitty Bransfield (July 11, 1910), Gavvy Cravath (Aug. 8, 1915), Willie "Puddin' Head" Jones (Aug. 20, 1958) and Mike Schmidt (April 17, 1976).
"After the second one, I came in and looked at the video, and they put up a graphic," said Werth, a former Blue Jays prospect. "I rewound it and paused it and looked at it and said, 'Man, I have a chance to do something special.'"
Werth smashed his first two home runs to the opposite field against Jays rookie lefty David Purcey, who was sent to the minors after the game. The first, a three-run shot in the second inning, landed in the right-field bleachers. The second, Werth's first career grand slam, dented an advertisement on the facade below the second deck and opened an 8-2 lead in the third inning.
By the fifth, Purcey had been replaced by right-hander Jesse Litsch. No matter. Werth hit a solo shot into the left-field seats and became the first Phillies player since Ryan Howard on Sept. 3, 2006 to homer three times in a game.
"I've never had a curtain call," Werth said. "You see guys get them and they're cool. It was a special moment. I won't forget this night."
PHILLIES 10, BLUE JAYS 3: Jayson Werth tied a franchise record with eight RBIs, as the Phillies won the opener of a three-game, interleague series at Citizens Bank Park. Werth hit three home runs, becoming the 18th Phillies player to accomplish that feat. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino added two hits apiece. Werth gave the Phillies a 3-0 lead with a second-inning homer and an 8-0 lead with a third-inning grand slam. Jamie Moyer went 6 2/3 strong innings for his 233rd career victory.
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