Diamondbacks winning streak ends in loss to Blue Jays
Jun 22, 2016, 4:45 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks Wellington Castillo reacts to a called third strike during the third inning of an interleague baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Wednesday, June 22, 2016, in Toronto. (Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)
(Fred Thornhill/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO (AP) — Russell Martin hit a three-run homer and Edwin Encarnacion and Troy Tulowitzki added solo shots as the Toronto Blue Jays snapped the Arizona Diamondbacks’ five-game winning streak with a 5-2 victory on Wednesday.
With the win, the Blue Jays earned a split of the two-game interleague series. Arizona came into its fifth-ever game in Toronto on an 8-2 run that featured six consecutive road wins.
J.A. Happ (9-3) won his third straight start and maintained his streak of never having given up more than two earned runs in his fifth start against the Diamondbacks, who left nine runners on base.
Happ went five innings, giving up two runs and six hits while striking out eight. Gavin Floyd, Drew Storen and Jason Grilli got the Blue Jays to the ninth, where Roberto Osuna picked up his 14th save.
In his first career start against Toronto, Robbie Ray (4-6) lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up four hits and four earned runs with eight strikeouts.
A day after seeing his 13-game hitting streak end, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 2 for 2 with two walks.
Facing a full count with two outs in the first, Martin got the Blue Jays on the board early, driving home Josh Donaldson and Encarnacion with a shot over the scoreboard in left-center for his sixth home run of the season.
Encarnacion chalked up his 19th home run and major league-leading 62nd RBI in the sixth inning with a homer to left-center, while Tulowitzki followed suit two batters later, extending his hitting streak to 10 games with his 10th home run, off reliever Zack Godley.
Arizona’s Phil Gosselin capitalized on an error by right fielder Darrell Ceciliani to put the Diamondbacks on the board in the third inning. Arizona then had a chance to tie the game after Happ issued consecutive walks to load the bases, but the left-hander struck out Welington Castillo to end the threat. Michael Bourn added a run in the fourth with an RBI single.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: OF Ezequiel Carrera (sore Achilles) was replaced by Ceciliani after jamming his leg against a base in Tuesday’s series opener. Ceciliani, who celebrated his birthday Wednesday, made his first start as a Blue Jay, while Carrera was given the day off. He was replaced as leadoff hitter by 2B Devon Travis. RHP Marco Estrada, who left Tuesday’s game with tightness in his back, is still on track to make his next scheduled start, Monday against Colorado.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Greinke (10-3, 3.54) will face Rockies RHP Eddie Butler (2-4, 6.26) Thursday as Arizona begins a four-game series at Colorado. In six road starts this season, Greinke is 5-0 with a 1.47 ERA, and is 7-4 lifetime with a 4.06 ERA against the Rockies.
Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (7-1, 3.35) starts against White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon (2-6, 4.16) on Friday as Toronto starts a three-game set at Chicago. Sanchez will be making his first career start against the White Sox.
