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 the 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, Ernie Clement also had three hits, an RBI and run scored and Daulton Varsho had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored for the Blue Jays, who salvaged a win in the three-game series.
Toronto left-hander Yusei Kikuchi took a 7-0 lead into the fifth, but couldn’t escape the inning. He 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.
Ketel Marte’s grand slam highlighted a seven-run fifth inning 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 into the right-field corner to lead off the second and joined Alfredo Griffin and Juan Samuel as the only Toronto players to triple in three straight games.
Clement hit a grounder to shortstop Geraldo Perdomo with the infield in and he couldn’t glove the backhander, resulting in a run-scoring error and a 1-0 lead for the Blue Jays.
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 with the infield in to make it 3-0.
After a walk loaded the bases, Kiermeyer belted the first pitch over the fence in right for a 7-0 lead.
Kiermeyer, a four-time Gold Glove-winning outfielder, was put on waivers by the Blue Jays on Thursday, but went unclaimed.
The Diamondbacks loaded the bases off Kikuchi with one out in the fifth on an infield single and two walks. Marte then hit the first pitch over the fence in center to cut the lead to 7-4.
Kikuchi walked his third batter of the inning and an RBI single by Randal Grichuk made it 7-5. After hitting Jake McCarthy with a pitch to load the bases, he 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
