Blue Jays beat D-Backs, old friends Gurriel and Moreno in return from All-Star break
Posted July 14, 2023 10:21 pm.
Last Updated July 14, 2023 10:30 pm.
The Toronto Blue Jays returned from the All-Star break with a convincing 7-2 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks at the Rogers Centre on Friday night, spoiling the anticipated homecomings of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno.
Fresh of his Home Run Derby title, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. crushed a solo shot, his 14th of the season, and third baseman Matt Chapman had three hits, including an RBI double.
Whit Merrifield, who made his first All-Star game appearance as a Blue Jay this week, had two hits and two RBIs on Friday night. Veteran slugger Brandon Belt added two hits and an RBI.
Starter José Berríos pitched 5 1/3 innings, scattering seven hits but only allowing one earned run. He struck out four batters and improved his season ERA to 3.41. Relievers Trevor Richards, Nate Pearson and Jay Jackson all combined for one earned run (charged to Richards) and seven strikeouts.
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Friday also marked the return of long-time Blue Jays outfielder Gurriel and former top-catching prospect Moreno.
The pair were sent to Arizona in the offseason as part of the trade that saw Daulton Varsho acquired by the Blue Jays.
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— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 15, 2023
Gurriel went 1-for-4 with a single, while Moreno had two hits, including a solo home run, his third of the season. The Diamondbacks entered the game with a 52-39 record and have received solid contributions from Gurriel and Moreno in their first season in the desert.
Gurriel, also coming off an NL All-Star appearance, is hitting .263/.315/.490 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in 80 games. The Cuban outfielder hit only five home runs in 121 games with the Blue Jays last season, and his career-high is 21, which he set in 2021 with Toronto.
Moreno, 23, has cooled down after a hot start but has had a productive first full season in the majors with Arizona. He’s now slashing a healthy .271/.315/.360 with three home runs and 27 RBIs.
In a battle of Cy Young candidates and All-Star pitchers, the Blue Jays (51-41) will send Kevin Gausman to the mound on Saturday. The D-Backs will counter with Zac Gallen, who made his first-ever All-Star appearance this week.
