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Instant Reaction: Alejandro Kirk’s two home runs weren’t enough as Blue Jays fall 9-5 to Diamondbacks
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Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 19, 2025, 18:15 EDTUpdated: Jun 19, 2025, 18:30 EDT
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The sweep wasn’t meant to be for the Toronto Blue Jays.
On Thursday, the Jays fell 9-5 to the Arizona Diamondbacks, moving their season record to 40-34. The New York Yankees won on Thursday afternoon, meaning the Jays are now three games back of the division lead. Let’s take a look at what happened in the series finale.
After a scoreless first inning, the Diamondbacks got on the board thanks to Eugenio Suarez’s 22nd home run of the season, a two-run blast. In the bottom half of the second, Alejandro Kirk hit his sixth home run of the season, a solo homer to cut the Diamondbacks’ lead in half.
For the next four innings, it was all the Diamondbacks. Suarez hit his 14th double of the season to score two runners in the top of the third, making it a 4-1 game. In the top of the fifth, Pavin Smith hit a two-run home run to give the Diamondbacks a 6-1 lead. Later that inning, former Blue Jay Randal Grichuk hit a sacrifice fly.
In the top of the sixth, Ketel Marte hit a run-scoring double to give the Diamondbacks an 8-1 lead. The final Diamondbacks’ run was scored in the same inning, as Smith hit a sacrifice fly. Toronto finally responded, as Kirk hit his second home run of the game to make it 9-2.
Their best chance at a comeback came in the bottom of the eighth. Jonatan Clase hit a lead-off home run to make it 9-3. After Bo Bichette struck out, Addison Barger hit a single and was cashed in thanks to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s double. Kirk was able to drive in Guerrero Jr., but the rally ended as George Springer hit into a double play.

Takeaways…

Alejandro Kirk continues to prove that the Blue Jays made the right choice in keeping him. He had half of the Blue Jays’ hits in this game, hitting his sixth and seventh home runs of the season for a three-RBI game. He’s now slashing .313/.354/.442 with a 126 wRC+ in 243 plate appearances.
The rest of the Blue Jays’ three hits came in the bottom of the eighth, as Jonatan Clase hit a solo home run, Addison Barger hit a single, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a double. The Jays went 1-1 with runners in scoring position, but left three runners on base. They also grounded into two double plays.
It’s becoming increasingly evident that the Blue Jays will need some rotation help before the trade deadline. Kevin Guasman struggled mightily in the game, giving up seven earned runs in four and one-third innings pitched to bring his season ERA to 4.60.
Paxton Schultz gave up the other two earned runs, going two and two-thirds innings. Justin Bruihl struck out two in his inning and two-thirds, while Braydon Fisher struck out the only batter he faced.
The good news is that the Jays avoided going deep into their bullpen, a good thing considering Friday’s game is a bullpen game. Spencer Turnbull is the likely starter as the Jays host the Chicago White Sox for a three-game series. Friday’s game starts at the usual 7:07 PM ET.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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