Eric Lauer struck out a season-best eight, Bo Bichette homered among three hits and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1 on Wednesday night.
Lauer (3-1) allowed one run, four hits and one walk in five-plus innings to help the Blue Jays clinch the three-game series with one to play.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits, three walks and three RBIs, Bichette had two RBIs, Addison Barger had three hits and an RBI and Ernie Clement had three hits for Toronto.
Bichette started Toronto’s first with a homer to center on a 1-0 sinker from Eduardo Rodriguez (2-4).
Toronto added a run in the third. Tyler Heineman singled, Barger doubled with one out and Guerrero was walked intentionally to load the bases. With two out, Jose Herrera was called for catcher’s interference on George Springer’s swing to force in a run.
Toronto loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth and did not score. Bichette lined a single to left, Barger blooped a single to left and Guerrero walked. Bichette was out at home on Alejandro Kirk’s grounder to third and Springer struck out before Tayler Scott entered to retire Clement on a fly to left. Rodriguez allowed two runs (one earned), six hits and three walks (one intentional) with four strikeouts.
Yariel Rodriguez replaced Lauer in the sixth after Corbin Carroll’s leadoff triple to the right-field corner. Carroll scored on Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s groundout to third.
Toronto scored three in the bottom of the inning. Pinch hitter Alan Roden hit a one-out infield single deflected by Scott and Bichette singled to right on a sweeping swing on an outside pitch. Barger doubled in a run and Guerrero doubled in two more.
Toronto added three more in the seventh against Kevin Ginkel after loading the bases on Clement’s double, a hit batter and a walk. Heineman hit a sacrifice fly, Bichette’s groundout to the pitcher scored a run and Guerrero’s single scored another.
Carroll left the game in the eighth after being hit on the hand by a pitch.
Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno (hand) did not play.
Toronto’s Myles Straw (sprained ankle) and Jonatan Clase (bruised knee) are considered day-to-day.
