Coming off a gut-punch walk-off loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, the Arizona Diamondbacks had very little to offer Wednesday’s 8-1 loss.
Blue Jays starter Eric Lauer continued his career-long excellence against Arizona dating back to his Padres days in 2018. He threw five innings with one earned run and eight strikeouts, lowering his career ERA in 10 starts against the D-backs to 2.38.
Eduardo Rodriguez’s elevated pitch count only allowed him to get through 4.2 innings with one earned run, while D-backs relievers Tayler Scott and Kevin Ginkel combined to surrender six earned runs.
Corbin Carroll gets X-ray for hand
To make matters much worse, Corbin Carroll was hit by a pitch on the hand during the eighth inning. A sinker from Justin Bruihl got Carroll on the left hand, and the outfielder’s yell was clearly picked up on TV.
Carroll stayed in the game to run, but in a lopsided affair, he came out for a defensive replacement in the bottom half. Manager Torey Lovullo told reporters postgame Carroll’s X-ray came back negative, but he has a hand contusion.
D-backs pitchers Ryan Thompson and Scott were hit by comebackers (and both remained in the game), as this was a painful night on many levels.
Catcher Gabriel Moreno did not play, as right hand soreness has sidelined him for the first two games against his former club.
Blue Jays break game open after D-backs pitch to Guerrero
Toronto took a 1-0 lead early, as Bo Bichette delivered a lead-off solo shot against Rodriguez in the first inning. His home run in the ninth inning on Tuesday tied the game ahead of Addison Barger’s game-winner.
Arizona’s offense did not score through five innings, as it finished with six hits, one walk and 12 strikeouts.
Toronto built its lead with three runs in the sixth off Scott, as Vladimir Gurrero Jr. came up with the back-breaking two-run double after the D-backs opted to pitch to him with first base open and two outs. Arizona intentionally walked Guerrero earlier in the game in a similar situation.
Ginkel really struggled in the seventh inning, giving up three runs with two hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch as he continues to search for the execution Arizona needs out of him. Josh Naylor made a diving play at first base to prevent further damage off Ginkel, who has given up five earned runs in two innings since coming back up from Triple-A Reno.
The Diamondbacks, after winning five straight games to charge over .500, have dropped three in a row to fall back under .500 at 36-37, dropping the series to Toronto.
Arizona was swept in Toronto in 2023, its last trip north of the border. Its last win at Rogers Centre came back in 2019.
Diamondbacks’ next game
Ryne Nelson (4.14 ERA) gets the start for the Diamondbacks in Thursday’s finale, while Toronto will start veteran right-hander Kevin Gausman (4.08 ERA).
After the game, the D-backs will head to Colorado for three games against the Rockies.
First pitch is at 12:07 p.m. MST on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
