Game #63 Arizona Diamondbacks (32-32) @ Toronto Blue Jays (23-40) - game recap

Diamondbacks righty Merrill Kelly threw seven strong innings as the Diamondbacks routed the Blue Jays 8-2

After a difficult loss to the Yankees, the Blue Jays were right back at it taking on the Arizona Diamondbacks. Marcus Stroman was back on the mound (he got one of the three wins in 2016 vs. Arizona). Cavan Biggio got the start at first base as Justin Smoak got a full day off and Rowdy Tellez served as the DH. Danny Jansen was back behind the plate after a day off yesterday. Randal Grichuk also returned to the field after serving as the DH yesterday. Could the Blue Jays get back on track with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Diamondbacks opened the scoring in the top of the 4th as David Peralta  singled home Ketel Marte
• A batter later, Christian Walker hit a ground-rule double scoring Eduardo Escobar
• A batter later, as Kevin Cron cranked a three-run blast into the Blue Jays bullpen also scoring Walker and Peralta
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 5th as Teoscar Hernandez smacked an opposite field shot into the Diamondbacks bullpen
• The Diamondbacks added a run in the top of the 6th as Peralta knocked one out to right into the Diamondbacks bullpen
• Marcus Stroman pitching line: 5.2IP 7H 6R (all earned) 2BB 4K 101 pitches (62 for strikes)
• The Diamondbacks added a run in the top of the 7th as Escobar singled home Jarrod Dyson
• Merrill Kelly pitching line: 7IP 3H 1R (earned) 2BB 3K 95 pitches (58 for strikes)
• The Diamondbacks added a run in the top of the 9th on an opposite field shot by Carson Kelly 
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled home Randal Grichuk. Gurriel Jr. advanced to second on the play on a throwing error
• Final score: Diamondbacks 8 Blue Jays 2

My Take:

• Marcus Stroman cruised through the first three innings, facing the minimum 9 batters. In the 4th inning, he was lit up to the tune of 5 runs on 4 hits and a walk. Stroman pitched into the 6th inning, key with Sanchez pitching tomorrow and a big stretch of games coming up starting Tuesday. How many more starts will Stroman make in a Blue Jays uniform with the team reportedly actively shopping him, Sanchez and Smoak
• The offence was pretty non-existent through the first seven innings, managing just a single run (on a solo HR) 3 hits and a pair of walks. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had the best day with a pair of hits. The Blue Jays best inning offensively was the 8th when they had runners on 1st and second (the only inning with multi-base runners)
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to even the series as Aaron Sanchez and his wonky digit take to the mound against former 2009 Cy Young winner Zack Greinke.