The Toronto Blue Jays' woes deepened on Saturday night as they suffered a 6-2 defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix, marking their fourth consecutive loss and dropping their record to 7-13 early in the season.
Eighth-Inning Collapse Seals Blue Jays' Fate
In a dramatic turn of events, the game was tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning. Toronto reliever Jeff Hoffman, who took the loss to fall to 1-2, faced a disastrous sequence. Ildemaro Vargas led off with a single, extending his majors-leading hitting streak to 17 games dating back to last season. Alek Thomas followed with another single, and Ketel Marte drew a four-pitch walk, loading the bases with no outs.
Corbin Carroll then stepped up and delivered the decisive blow, crushing a 3-1 pitch to left-centre for a grand slam. This was Carroll's fourth career grand slam and third home run of the season, breaking the tie and propelling Arizona to their fourth straight victory. Juan Morillo earned his first major league win by pitching 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Scherzer Shows Glimpses of Former Brilliance
On a brighter note for Toronto, veteran pitcher Max Scherzer returned to Phoenix, where his big-league career began, and delivered a solid performance. After struggling in his first three starts of the season, Scherzer showed flashes of his past dominance. He navigated a challenging 22-pitch first inning, allowing just one run, and ultimately completed six innings, giving up only five hits total. He issued one walk and recorded one strikeout, finishing with an efficient 74 pitches.
Despite Scherzer's efforts, the Blue Jays' offense could not capitalize fully. They managed to tie the game in the sixth inning after a replay review overturned a potential double play, allowing Kazuma Okamoto to deliver a two-out RBI single that chased Arizona starter Zac Gallen. Gallen had given up nine hits but limited Toronto to two runs over 5 2/3 innings.
Notable Returns and Defensive Highlights
The game also featured the return of former Blue Jay Lourdes Gurriel to the Diamondbacks' lineup for the first time since tearing the ACL in his right knee on September 1. Although Gurriel went 0-for-4 at the plate, he made a significant defensive contribution by throwing out Myles Straw as he attempted to stretch a single into a double to end the Toronto fourth inning.
Looking ahead, the Blue Jays were set to face the Diamondbacks in the series finale on Sunday, with Toronto right-hander Kevin Gausman (0-1, 2.42 ERA) scheduled to oppose Arizona right-hander Ryne Nelson (1-1, 3.54 ERA). As Toronto continues to grapple with injuries and inconsistent play, this loss underscores the challenges they face early in the 2026 season.
