The pieces are falling back into place for the Philadelphia Phillies after a brief rough patch, as they seek a series sweep over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays in Sunday's finale at Citizens Bank Park.

Max Kepler hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

The Phillies offense only finished with four hits, but patience at the plate and Cristopher Sánchez holding the Blue Jays to two runs over seven innings resulted in a 3-2 win Saturday.

Toronto has remained without veteran starting pitcher Max Scherzer, who has been working his way back from a thumb injury. Scherzer, an eight-time All-Star, joined the Blue Jays on a one-year, $15.5 million contract but has been experiencing a tough start to life after exiting his debut game on March 29 due to a right thumb inflammation.

Francis allowed just one hit in the first 12 batters he faced. Then he spiralled in the fourth inning, exiting to a raucous Philly crowd.

The Philadelphia Phillies ride Ranger Suárez’s 7-inning shutout and Kyle Schwarber’s 22nd homer to an 8-0 win vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.

With the Blue Jays up 1-0, Francis retired Kyle Schwarber and Alec Bohm before walking Nick Castellanos and Max Kepler. Then, the 29-year-old hit J.T. Realmuto with a pitch, walked Bryson Stott to bring in a run, and hit Otto Kemp to bring in another run. Toronto manager John Schneider had seen enough after that.

Ranger Suárez doesn’t throw the hardest. In an era where some pitchers are regularly blazing past triple digits on the radar gun, a fastball that clocks 92 mph puts Suárez in the 12th percentile of major league baseball.