Estrada sets pitching mark but Jays’ fail to capitalize
No consistent groove against D-backs’ Corbin
On a record-setting night for Marco Estrada, his Toronto Blue Jays teammates failed to record much of anything in the way of offence.
Estrada on Tuesday became the first pitcher — at least since the mound was set at 60 feet six inches from home plate in 1893 — to go 11 consecutive starts of at least six innings while holding opponents to five hits or fewer.
By the time Estrada was lifted to start the seventh, the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks had a 3-2 lead at the Rogers Centre, and would go on to beat the Jays 4-2.
With the roof open and a crowd of 41,838 looking on, Estrada ( 5- 3) was sharp again for Toronto, giving up just two hits and three walks while striking out eight.
A t wo- r un home r un by Yasmany Tomas in the fourth inning provided Arizona with a 3- 0 lead after it scored the first run of the game in the third.
The D-backs padded their lead to 4- 2 in the seventh when Pete O’Brien hit an opposite- field home run to right off Jesse Chavez, who had replaced Estrada.
In the bottom of the seventh, Jays’ Josh Donaldson grounded into an inningending double play with runners at first and third.
Overall, it was a frustrating loss for the Jays, who outhit the Diamondbacks 8- 3. The Jays couldn’t get i nto a consistent groove against D- backs starter Patrick Corbin, who entered the game with a 3- 6 record and a 4.76 earned-run average.
Corbin went 6.1 innings, allowing eight hits and two earned runs. He walked three and struck out three.
The Jays have lost three in a row for the first time since a five- game skid May 14-18. The Diamondbacks have won five consecutive games and are 8-2 in their past 10. They’re 9- 4 in their past 13 interleague road games.
The teams will finish the mini two- game series on Wednesday. It continues an unusual stretch in the schedule for the Jays, who came home for the two games following a five-game trip. After an off- day on Thursday, Toronto goes back on the road to visit the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies for a total of six games before returning to the Rogers Centre on June 30.
Kevin Pillar made another one of his highlight- reel catches in centre field, bringing fans to their feet in a show of appreciation and his teammates to the top of the dugout to congratulate him when the inning ended.
The timing of the play couldn’t have been better.
Pillar crashed into the fence in centre but managed to hold on to the ball after it was hit hard by O’Brien, robbing the batter of extra bases.
It was the second out of the top of the fourth inning, and came immediately after Tomas smacked his two- run shot into the first row of the second deck in left field, giving the visitors a three- run lead. After Pillar’s excellent catch, Nick Ahmed grounded out to Donaldson to end the inning.
Pillar made it count with his bat in the Jays’ half of the fourth, providing two runs on a one- out double to leftcentre.
The RBIs were Pillar’s 28th and 29th of the season. Russell Martin struck out to start the inning, but Michael Saunders then doubled and Troy Tulowitzki drew a walk. Both scored on Pillar’s 18th double of the season.
That’s where Pillar’s run of luck ended. Darwin Barney struck out, and with Ezequiel Carrera at the plate, Pillar attempted to steal third but was thrown out.
Arizona had taken a 1- 0 lead in the third when Jean Segura walked with two out, stole second and scored on a single to left by Hermann.
Estrada had enjoyed a nice little streak before walking Segura. After issuing a base on balls to Segura to start the game, Estrada retired the next eight batters before walking Segura again.