Merrifield, Bichette HR as Blue Jays beat Diamondbacks for seventh win in eight games #Merrifield #Bichette #Blue #Jays #beat #Diamondbacks #seventh #win #games

TORONTO (AP) — Whit Merrifield and Bo Bichette hit solo homers, George Springer drove in two runs and emergency starter Chris Bassitt pitched six strong innings as the Toronto Blue Jays won for the seventh time in eight games, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2 on Saturday.

Merrifield broke a 2-all tie by connecting off Zac Gallen in the fourth, his sixth homer of the season. Bichette gave Toronto an insurance run with a homer off Scott McGough in the eighth, his team-leading 16th.

Merrifield added a sacrifice fly later in the eighth and finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Chicago Cubs' Cody Bellinger hits a grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Cody Bellinger hit a grand slam to back a solid effort by pitcher Marcus Stroman and the Cubs topped the Boston Red Sox 10-4 on Saturday.

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres reacts after striking out against Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Austin Gomber during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 14, 2023, in Denver.(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Kris Bryant hit one of Colorado’s three home runs and Austin Gomber won his fourth straight outing as the Rockies beat the New York Yankees 7-2.

Boston Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida, left, celebrate with Justin Turner after Turner's two-run home run off Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, July 14, 2023, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Rafael Devers hit two long solo homers off Kyle Hendricks, Justin Turner had a two-run homer and three RBIs in his first start at second base in nearly eight years, and the Boston Red Sox powered past the Chicago Cubs 8-3 for their sixth straight win.

Baltimore Orioles' Adam Frazier drinks from a "Homer Hose" after hitting a home run against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 14, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)

Adam Frazier went deep twice in his first career multihomer game, and Cedric Mullins hit a solo shot of his own to lift the Baltimore Orioles to their sixth straight victory, 5-2 over the Miami Marlins.

Bassitt (9-5) won his second straight decision as the Blue Jays moved a season-best 11 games above .500 at 52-41. The 34-year-old right-hander started in place of Kevin Gausman, who was scratched early Saturday because of discomfort in his left side.

Bassitt allowed two runs and seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

Nate Pearson worked the seventh, Erik Swanson pitched the eighth and Yimi García finished for his second save in four chances.

Arizona has lost nine of 13.

Gallen (11-4) came in with a record of 7-0 following a Diamondbacks loss, but couldn’t extend that streak against Toronto. The right-hander gave up three runs and six hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out five.

Springer’s bases-loaded single in the second gave Toronto an early lead, but the Diamondbacks tied it in the fourth when two runs scored on Jake McCarthy’s two-out infield single to second base. The Blue Jays challenged the close call at first, but the play stood.

Merrifield promptly restored Toronto’s advantage with a leadoff homer in the bottom half.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: Manager John Schneider said Gausman felt sore after his final start before the All-Star break on July 8 at Detroit. An MRI showed no structural damage. Gausman is day-to-day.

EARLY HOLE

Arizona 3B Emmanuel Rivera was called for an automatic strike before seeing a pitch from Bassitt in the second. Rivera took three straight balls, then fouled off two pitches before striking out swinging.