Phillies manager Thomson makes Canadian history
Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson became the first Canadian to manage a major league game in his home country when he led the Phillies against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
“It’s great to be home,” Thomson said before the Phillies were edged by the Blue Jays 4-3. “I love coming back here. I love the ballpark, especially when the roof is open. I have a lot of family and friends here. It means a lot.”
Among those friends were eight former teammates from the 1984 Canadian Olympic baseball team, for whom the 58-yearold Thomson was catcher.
Thomson is from Sarnia, Ontario, a city on the Michigan border about 200 miles west of Toronto. He was promoted from his role as bench coach to interim manager after Joe Girardi was fired on June 3.
That made Thomson the first Canadian-born manager in the big leagues since Pittsburgh’s George Gibson was fired in June 1934.
The Phillies are 24-13 under Thomson.
The Phillies’ Rob Thomson managed against the Blue Jays in his home country of Canada on Tuesday night.
beat the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani 31-28 in the first round, then lost to Alonso 16-15 in the second round.
Soto is hitting .243 with 17 home runs this season.
Schwarber, the Phillies’ lone All-Star representative. has an NL-leading 28 home runs in his first season with the club.
Replacements named for All-Star teams
San Francisco Giants lefthander Carlos Rodón, Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez and Miami Marlins first baseman Garrett Cooper were added for Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.
They replaced Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper and Houston’s Yordan Álvarez, who are hurt, and Milwaukee closer Josh Hader, who is skipping the game because of family responsibilities.
Rodón made the AllStar team for the second straight season. He is 8-5 with a 2.70 ERA, striking out 124 in 100 innings.
Martinez is a five-time All-Star who is hitting .313 with nine homers, 38 RBIs and 29 doubles.
Cooper becomes the 31st first-time All-Star this year. He is batting .299 with seven homers and 40 RBIs.