Happ holds down Phillies as Blue Jays win 3-0

May 5 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (middle) celebrates a win against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Blue Jays defeated the Phillies, 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

J.A. Happ had a triumphant return to the mound and pitched five scoreless innings, holding the Phillies to only three hits, as the Blue Jays were able to scrap together a 3-0 win in the City of Brotherly Love.

With the pitchers spot due up at the top of the seventh, Happ was lifted after 80 pitches to start the sixth. Considering Happ hadn’t pitched since April 23 the move made sense with a three run lead. Esmil Rogers, Aaron Loup, Steve Delabar and Brett Cecil all provided scoreless innings while Loup was especially strong with three strikeouts.

Jose Reyes led off the game with a solo shot to right field on a 2-0 count from Phillies’ pitcher Kyle Kendrick. Later in the inning Juan Francisco scored Melky Cabrera on a fly ball that just dropped on the fair side of the left field line to give Happ a nice lead to work with before even taking the mound.

Colby Rasmus connected for two hits including a double while Josh Thole scored Rasmus with a double of his own in the second. It was a good thing the Blue Jays got on the board early because other than a Cabrera single in the seventh and a couple of walks from Francisco and Rasmus that was it for the offense.

Brett Lawrie left the game following an at bat in the fourth inning with what’s being described as right hamstring tightness. According to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com, Lawrie has been dealing with the issue for “well over a week”. However, as Chisholm adds, Brett says he could play through the injury but will take a few days off as a precaution. Sounds like a good plan to me but I guess that means a couple more nights with Fat Juan at third base.

Jose Bautista was hit by a pitch to reach base for the 32nd consecutive game and had the play of the night with a run-saving throw in the sixth, which was reviewed under the new home plate collision rule but held up. Bautista prompted to troll the rowdy Phillies fans who were apparently chirping him all night in right field after Cecil closed out the game. Andrew Stoeten of DJF shares the amazing GIF, which was created by @DanToman.