Tomas, O'Brien boost D-backs with blasts

June 21st, 2016

TORONTO -- Yasmany Tomas and Peter O'Brien went deep, while Patrick Corbin allowed two runs over 6 1/3 innings to help the D-backs edge the Blue Jays, 4-2, at Rogers Centre on Tuesday night.
Tomas' 10th home run of the season was part of a two-run fourth inning for Arizona off Toronto starter Marco Estrada and was one of only two hits the D-backs picked up against the right-hander. O'Brien's blast in the seventh added some much-needed insurance, and Daniel Hudson earned his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth. The D-backs picked up their season-high-tying fifth consecutive win in their first trip to Rogers Centre since 2004.
"We talked early about O'Brien and Tomas, they're going to hit the ball out of the park. This is a park the ball will go in, so you'll take it," said D-backs manager Chip Hale. "Even with your best guys right now not swinging well tonight, we were able to pull it out."

Corbin pitched into the seventh for his fourth straight start, but he was lifted after one out with runners on the corners. The 26-year-old southpaw limited the Blue Jays to two runs on eight hits while striking out three, picking up 12 groundouts along the way.

"This team has a lot of power," Corbin said. "We were just trying to keep 'em off balance, got back to the fastball inside, and tried to get as many ground balls as we could and keep the ball on the ground."
Despite the loss, Estrada set a Major League record with his 11th consecutive outing allowing fewer than five hits while going at least six-plus innings. The 32-year-old finished his evening after six innings, striking out eight while walking three.
"There's been a lot of great pitchers in this game," Estrada said. "For something like that to happen, I'm obviously very excited and very happy for it, but it's kind of a bittersweet moment for it right now. We lost, so there's nothing really to cheer for."

Kevin Pillar notched a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth, while Troy Tulowitzki also added two hits for the Blue Jays, who lost their third in a row after dropping a pair of games against Baltimore this past weekend.
"They beat us at our game, we usually hit some home runs," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "We had some chances. We had some guys on base and we couldn't cash anything in. That was early in the year, too. They made some big pitches, got some big outs, and you've got to give them credit for that. "
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Adding to the lead: After Pillar robbed him of extra bases in the fourth, O'Brien responded with a one-out solo home run to right off of Jesse Chavez in the seventh -- his fourth homer of the season.

Pillar of strength: Pillar made his presence felt on all sides of the diamond in the fourth inning. The 27-year-old prevented O'Brien from snagging extra bases, crashing up against the wall and landing on his back to record the second out. Pillar followed that up with a two-run double in the bottom of the frame to get the Blue Jays on the board and cut Arizona's lead to 3-2.

"I constantly look at my surroundings," Pillar said. "Wherever I'm playing, I have a pretty good idea of how far I'm playing and how much room I have, but in the moment, it's about going to get the ball and whatever happens after, happens." More >
Tomas goes deep: The D-backs added to their lead in the fourth when Tomas hit his 10th home run of the season. With Arizona already leading 1-0, Tomas took Estrada's 2-2 pitch over the left-field wall for a two-run home run.
Missed opportunity: Down 4-2, the Blue Jays chased Corbin with one out in the seventh inning and had Josh Donaldson up to bat with two on and one out against reliever Jake Barrett. The reigning American League MVP was unable to capitalize, grounding into an inning-ending double play to kill the rally. The Blue Jays left seven men on base while going 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Tuesday's loss marked the first time the Blue Jays have lost a game when allowing three hits or fewer since falling to the Rays on April 13, 2015.
UNDER REVIEW
Blue Jays right fielder Ezequiel Carrera thought he had a leadoff single in the first; however, after review, it was ruled that Paul Goldschmidt managed to scoop Jake Lamb's throw out of the dirt in time to get Carrera for the 5-3 putout.

WHAT'S NEXT
D-backs: Lefty Robbie Ray (4-5, 4.44 ERA) takes the mound on Wednesday as the D-backs conclude a brief two-game series in Toronto at 1:07 p.m. MST. Ray surrendered just two runs while striking out seven over six innings of work his last time out against the Phillies.
Blue Jays:J.A. Happ gets the ball for Toronto at 4:07 p.m. ET after a brilliant start his last time out against the Phillies. Happ spun seven innings en route to a 13-2 Toronto victory. The 33-year-old southpaw is 2-1 with a 1.73 ERA against the D-backs in five career games, including four starts.
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