Jul 14, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) hits a grand slam home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports Kevin Kiermaier hit a grand slam in a six-run fourth inning and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. blasted a go-ahead home run in the seventh to lift the Toronto Blue Jays to an 8-7 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday in Phoenix.
Guerrero had three hits and scored twice, while Ernie Clement also had three hits, an RBI and a run scored for Toronto, which salvaged a win in the three-game series.
Daulton Varsho added two hits, an RBI and scored twice for the Blue Jays.
Toronto left-hander Yusei Kikuchi took a 7-0 lead into the fifth, but couldn’t escape the inning. Kikuchi allowed seven runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking three.
Trevor Richards (2-1) earned the win in relief. Chad Green secured his sixth save.
Ketel Marte’s grand slam highlighted a seven-run fifth for the Diamondbacks, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.
Marte had three hits and Eugenio Suarez had two hits and two RBIs for Arizona.
Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen allowed seven runs (six earned) and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out one and walked one.
Varsho tripled to lead off the second. He joined Alfredo Griffin and Juan Samuel as the only Blue Jays to triple in three straight games.
Clement hit a grounder with the infield in to shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, who couldn’t glove a backhand attempt, resulting in a run-scoring error and a 1-0 Toronto lead.
A looping single to center by Danny Jansen put runners on first and second with no outs in the fourth.
Varsho then grounded an RBI single through the right side to stretch the lead to 2-0, and Clement followed with a single up the middle to make it 3-0.
After a walk loaded the bases, Kiermaier belted the first pitch over the fence in right for a 7-0 lead.
Kiermaier, a four-time Gold Glove-winning outfielder, was put on waivers by the Blue Jays on Thursday, but went unclaimed.
Arizona loaded the bases against Kikuchi with one out in the fifth before Marte hit the first pitch over the fence in center to cut the lead to 7-4.
Kikuchi then walked his third batter of the inning, and Randal Grichuk’s RBI single three batters later made it 7-5.
After hitting Jake McCarthy with a pitch to load the bases, Kikuchi was replaced by Genesis Cabrera, who gave up a two-run single to Suarez to tie it 7-7.
Guerrero took Kevin Ginkel (6-2) deep to start the seventh and move the Blue Jays back ahead 8-7.
–Field Level Media
