Brandon Pfaadt’s take on being efficient against Toronto Blue Jays
Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt explains being efficient and making the right pitches against the explosive Toronto Blue Jays.
TORONTO — A three-run sixth inning and a three-run seventh for the Blue Jays against Arizona Diamondbacks relievers was more than enough for Toronto in its 8-1 win Wednesday night, June 18, at Rogers Centre.
After the Diamondbacks had made it 2-1 in the top of the sixth on Corbin Carroll’s leadoff triple and a Lourdes Gurriel Jr. groundout, the Blue Jays put the game away with three straight two-out hits against right-hander Tayler Scott. The big blow was Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s two-run double.
Scott, brought up from Triple-A Reno on June 10, has been scored on in two of his three outings since joining the Diamondbacks, whose injuries forced them to bring up reinforcements from the minors.
Scott got the final out of the fifth inning after coming in for starter Eduardo Rodriguez (2-4) but struggled in the sixth. The Diamondbacks’ offense didn’t help, with just a run on four hits.
Right-hander Kevin Ginkel fared no better, allowing three runs in the seventh inning as the Diamondbacks fell further behind.
To make matters worse, Carroll was hit on the hand with a pitch in the top of the eighth inning and stayed in the game to take first base. But he was removed before the bottom of the eighth.
Relief pitcher Ryan Thompson was struck in the shoulder with a line drive in the bottom of the eighth, but stayed in and turned a double play.
Diamondbacks with one fully healthy catcher
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno said he’s OK, but apparently that wasn’t enough for manager Torey Lovullo to put Moreno in the lineup on Wednesday, June 18, here against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Moreno continues to deal with the effects of a ball hitting him in his throwing hand on a bounced wild pitch in Cincinnati earlier this month. He’s played through it since, but missed the team’s June 17 game as well due to right hand soreness.
“For right now, it’s just a little bit too much for him to overcome,” Lovullo said. “Holding him back a little bit and giving him some therapy and some treatment and rest, we felt like would be the best solution.”
Moreno is day to day and was available in an emergency, Lovullo said.
The team is considering whether to put Moreno on the injured list, with two catchers at Triple-A Reno, Adrian Del Castillo and Rene Pinto, as options. Del Castillo is being brought along slowly since he was injured earlier in the season. Pinto suffered a broken hand earlier this season but has returned to action.
José Herrera is getting the playing time at catcher for the Diamondbacks with Moreno unable to go, but Lovullo said he has to be careful with Herrera’s workload.
No concerns about hit-by-pitches
Lovullo said he wasn’t upset about Eugenio Suarez being hit twice by pitches in the series opener June 17. The Diamondbacks also hit two Blue Jays with pitches, but Lovullo didn’t feel there was retaliation involved.
Lovullo said Suarez warned him that Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt is prone to hitting batters.
“It’s a thing in this game, and I think when anyone crosses the line, something could be said or something could be done,” Lovullo said. “Major League Baseball has asked players to not put that in their own hands.
“They said they would monitor that. I think Bassitt just missed his spot. … No big deal, not a problem for me.”
Coming up
Thursday, June 19: At Toronto, 12:07 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (3-2, 4.14) vs. Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman (5-5, 4.08).
Friday, June 20: At Colorado, 5:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (4-8, 5.19) vs. Rockies RHP Austin Gomber (0-0, 0.00).
Saturday, June 21: At Colorado, 6:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (6-3, 3.41) vs. Rockies LHP Carson Palmquist (0-4, 7.76)