Harper homers in return, Turner goes deep twice as Phillies use 6-run 1st to beat Blue Jays 8-3

TORONTO (AP) — Bryce Harper homered in his first at-bat following a five-game absence, Trea Turner went deep twice and the Philadelphia Phillies scored six runs in the first inning Tuesday night on the way to an 8-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays that ended a four-game skid.

Harper was back in action after being sidelined with a bruised right elbow after being hit by a pitch. The Phillies went 1-4 without the slugger and fell out of first place in the NL East.

Against the Blue Jays, Harper went 1 for 3 with two walks and scored twice.

Left-hander Christopher Sánchez (5-1) allowed one run in six innings to win for the first time since May 7.

Addison Barger hit a two-run home run off Maz Lazar, and Davis Schneider hit a solo shot off Sánchez, but Toronto had its five-game winning streak halted.

Barger has homered in four straight games, raising his season total to six.

Blue Jays right-hander Bowden Francis (2-7) matched a career-worst by allowing seven runs, six earned, in 1 2/3 innings.

Bryson Stott drew a leadoff walk and Turner followed with a two-run homer. Harper piled on with a 394-foot drive, his ninth. It was the third time the Phillies have hit back-to-back homers.

Max Kepler’s RBI single and Stott’s two-run hit capped the six-run inning, which matched Philadelphia’s biggest of the season.

Turner added a solo homer, his seventh, off Erik Swanson in the eighth inning. It was Turner’s first multi-homer game of the season and the 18th of his career.

Back at third base after filling in for Harper at first, Alec Bohm made a diving stop on George Springer’s grounder in the third, then threw from one knee to get the out.

The Phillies have won 14 of 16 on the road.

Blue Jays RHP José Berríos (2-2, 3.86 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday against Phillies RHP Mick Abel (1-0, 0.00)

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) reacts during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Toronto, Tuesday June 3, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez (61) works against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday June 3, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis (44) reacts as he stands on the mound during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Toronto, Tuesday June 3, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Philadelphia Phillies' Trea Turner (7) watches the flight of the ball after hitting a two-run home run off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday June 3, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper (3) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Tuesday June 3, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Julian Champagnie had a career-high 36 points and the San Antonio Spurs survived an injury scare to Victor Wembanyama, rallying to beat the New York Knicks 134-132 on Wednesday night in a rematch of the NBA Cup final.

Wembanyama finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds in 24 minutes before limping off the court with an apparent leg injury with under 11 minutes remaining. He returned to the bench in warmups in the final minutes.

New York's Jalen Brunson had 29 points, including a 3-pointer at the close of regulation after stripping Keldon Johnson of possession as he celebrated with San Antonio's bench. Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordan Clarkson added 20 points apiece for the Knicks, who had a three-game winning streak halted.

Wembanyama hobbled off the court unassisted with 10:32 remaining, heading to the locker room after injuring his left leg. He had soared to gather an offensive rebound over Towns and lost possession when he landed. Replays showed there was no contact, but Wembanyama’s left foot slid forward and his knee appeared to hyperextend.

Wembanyama returned to San Antonio's bench with 1:22 remaining, walking calmly and without a limp. It was a good time for the 7-foot-4 center to return. Wembanyama cheered from the sidelines as the Spurs held on to beat the Knicks to snap a two-game skid.

Champagnie scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, going 4 for 5 on 3-pointers, as San Antonio erased a double-digit deficit.

New York outscored San Antonio 28-27 in the second quarter, but it would have been much worse without Wembanyama. The 7-foot-4 center had 16 points in the second period.

Wembanyama brought the sell-out crowd to its feet with a one-handed slam off an alley-oop pass from Castle that cut New York's lead to 54-50. The Knicks responded with a 17-2 run following a timeout and Wembanyama's exit, including 14 straight points to cap the surge.

Wembanyama returned to help pare the deficit to 73-63.

Champagnie hit back-to-back 3-pointers, capping a 16-2 run that tied the game at 86 midway through the third.

Wembanyama made his 300th career 3-pointer, becoming the fastest to do so among 7-footers and accomplishing the feat in 138 games. That beat the previous mark of 141 games by Utah’s Lauri Markkanen.

Knicks: Host Sacramento on Thursday.

Spurs: At Indiana on Friday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

San Antonio Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox, right, tangles with New York Knicks players Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

New York Knicks guard Kevin McCullar Jr. (9) passes to Knicks center Ariel Hukporti as he is guarded by San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) blocks a shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, right, is fouled as he drives against San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) and Spurs center Victor Wembanyama during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)