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Werth's three homers help Phillies rout Blue Jays

May 17, 2008 - 4:22 AM By Vince DiGregorio PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Despite miserable weather, Jayson Werth had a memorable night for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Werth belted three home runs - including a grand slam - and tied a franchise record with eight RBI as the Phillies began interleague play with a 10-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

Werth homered in each of his first three plate appearances.

"Jayson Werth is definitely the hero of tonight's game," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He's a run producer. He's got a lot of talent."

The 29-year-old hit a three-run shot off Toronto starter David Purcey (0-1) in the second inning and blasted a grand slam off the rookie in the third. Werth added a solo homer in the fifth off Jesse Litsch in the fifth before fouling out in his final at-bat in the seventh.

"It was on my mind, probably," Werth said of trying to become the first player to hit four home runs in a game since former Blue Jay and current New York Met Carlos Delgado accomplished the feat in 2003. "I was swinging at some pitches that I probably shouldn't have. It's just one of those nights. I don't really know what to say."

Werth became the first Phillie to hit three homers in a game since Ryan Howard did so on September 3, 2006 against the Atlanta Braves. Werth tied four others for the franchise RBI mark.

Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt was the most recent Phillie to accomplish the feat, as he hit four home runs against the Chicago Cubs on April 17, 1976. Willie Jones (1958), Gavvy Cravath (1915) and Kitty Bransfield (1910) also drove in eight runs in a game for the club.

"I saw the list of names, and Schmitty was on there," Werth said. "It's great company. It's a great honor to be on that list with those guys."

Jamie Moyer (3-3) was the beneficiary of Werth's offensive outburst. The lefthander worked 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts.

"When a guy has a special night like that, it's pretty cool," Moyer said. "You don't see that happen too often."

Werth originally was signed by the Baltimore Orioles before being traded to Toronto. He made his major league debut with the Blue Jays in 2002 and was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004 before signing with the Phillies as a free agent prior to last season.

"I had a chance at LA and then I got hurt," Werth said. "I was able to get healthy and come here. It was a blessing in disguise, I guess. I can't say enough about (Philadelphia). I never had a curtain call (before), and I had two tonight. That was pretty cool."

"We know Jayson from back when we had him over here," Toronto manager John Gibbons said. "He's got some kind of talent. He's got it all. You could see, little by little over the years, he's started to put it together."

After retiring the side in order in the first, Purcey immediately got himself in trouble in the second, when he walked Howard and Pat Burrell to start the frame. Werth then drove an 0-1 pitch over the right field wall to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

Howard's RBI single in the third made it 4-0 before Burrell walked to load the bases. Werth then doubled the lead, blasting a 3-1 pitch off an advertising sign in the second deck in right field for his first career slam.

Toronto got on the board in the fourth on an RBI double by Alex Rios and a run-scoring single by former Phillie Scott Rolen.

Werth completed his power surge with a two-out, solo home run that just cleared the left-center field wall, increasing Philadelphia's advantage to 9-2.

"I've been working hard with Charlie (Manuel) in the (batting) cage," Werth said. "I think something clicked and I was able to put it together."

Purcey lasted three innings, surrendering eight runs and five hits with four walks.

"The first inning, I was trying to put (pitches) over the plate," Purcey said. "(In the second), I started trying to overthrow a little bit."