Corbin Carroll hit two home runs and drove in six runs, while Yilber Diaz pitched six strong innings to earn his first win in the majors as the Arizona Diamondbacks cruised to a 12-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night.
The Diamondbacks had a productive night against José Berríos (8-7), scoring five runs on seven hits in just four innings against the right-handed pitcher. This win or series split marks their fifth consecutive strong performance, following a comeback victory the previous night when they overcame a 4-2 deficit in the eighth inning to beat the Blue Jays 5-4.
“Some of the guys are really heating up,” Carroll commented. “Everyone is contributing, and it’s been fantastic.”
Carroll, in particular, has been on fire lately. Despite a slow start to the season, the second-year player has been regaining his form, reminiscent of his performance when he was named NL Rookie of the Year last season.
He contributed with a sacrifice fly in the second inning, a three-run homer in the seventh, and a two-run shot in the eighth, extending Arizona’s lead to 12-1.
“It feels like he’s been waiting for a night like this,” remarked Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo.
Eugenio Suárez added to the offensive barrage with a two-run homer in the eighth inning, his third in the last four games, as the Diamondbacks tallied 15 hits en route to their 10th win in the last 14 games.
On the mound, Yilber Diaz (1-0) showcased his talent with a dominant performance, mixing a high-90s fastball with a sharp knuckle curve to keep the Blue Jays hitters off balance. He surrendered just one run on four hits, striking out two while issuing two walks.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays continue to struggle, losing nine of their last 11 games.
Diaz had made a promising big-league debut earlier in the week against Atlanta, allowing one run on four hits over six innings in a no-decision.
The 23-year-old Venezuelan continued his impressive form to secure his first victory against Toronto, effectively shutting down their offense after Alejandro Kirk’s sacrifice fly RBI in the second inning.
