The Arizona Diamondbacks will arrive at the ballpark Saturday with a winning record for the first time since April 3.
Arizona rallied to produce a 5-4 victory in the opener of a three-game series Friday night in Phoenix. Alek Thomas stroked a two-run tying single in the eighth and Geraldo Perdomo’s sacrifice fly in the ninth plated Corbin Carroll with the winning tally.
The Diamondbacks had been one out away from moving over the .500 mark on Monday before losing to the Atlanta Braves in extra innings. This time, it was them stealing away a victory with late-game heroics while winning for the ninth time in the past 13 games.
“Let’s see how far out in front of .500 we can get,” said Arizona right-hander Ryne Nelson, who allowed three runs in seven innings on Friday. “I think this team — we can get on a roll and start playing really well.”
The Diamondbacks sit just one game out of the National League wild card.
Toronto is 4-3 on a nine-game Western road swing with two games left before the All-Star break.
Blue Jays left fielder Daulton Varsho played in Phoenix for the first time since the Diamondbacks traded him to the Blue Jays for outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and catcher Gabriel Moreno after the 2022 season.
Varsho endured some rough moments last fall as Arizona made a run to the World Series with Gurriel and Moreno often praised as key cogs in the Diamondbacks’ success.
He says he is no longer applying pressure on himself to prove the Blue Jays made a good deal.
“I did that a lot last year,” said Varsho, who has 11 homers and 37 RBIs despite a .197 batting average. “This year’s been a little different. I’m trying to get back to who I am. Knowing that I’m Daulton, and Daulton’s good enough.”
Varsho was in the lineup after missing one game due to a left knee contusion. He went 1-for-4 with a triple and a run on Friday.
Moreno went 0-for-4 with a walk while Gurriel sat out with left shoulder soreness.
The Blue Jays also had center fielder Kevin Kiermaier in Friday’s lineup after he cleared waivers. The four-time Gold Glover went 0-for-3 with an RBI.
Kiermaier said prior to the game that he had mixed feelings about being placed on waivers.
“These things happen and it’s because my play has not been where it needs to be,” said Kiermaier, who is batting just .188. “I totally understand that. It’s just a weird situation overall.”
Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (right calf strain) has missed the past two games and is unlikely to play Saturday.
Right-hander Jose Berrios (8-6, 3.76 ERA) will take the mound Saturday for Toronto.
Berrios received a no-decision on Sunday when he struck out a season-best 10 in six innings against the Seattle Mariners. He gave up four runs and seven hits.
The 30-year-old Berrios has won three of his past four decisions.
Berrios has served up 10 homers over his past six outings and 21 on the season.
Berrios is 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA in two career starts versus the Diamondbacks.
Arizona rookie right-hander Yilber Diaz (0-0, 1.50) will make his second big league start.
Diaz was in line for a victory after holding the Atlanta Braves to one run and four hits over six innings on Monday.
The Diamondbacks were leading 3-1 with two outs in the ninth inning before Atlanta’s Sean Murphy hit a tying two-run homer off Paul Sewald to turn Diaz’s shiny performance into a no-decision. The Braves won 5-4 in 11 innings.
–Field Level Media