Blue Jays blow 7-run lead, but recover to beat Diamondbacks 8-7 after Guerrero's solo homer

PHOENIX (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a go-ahead solo homer, Kevin Kiermaier added a grand slam and the Toronto Blue Jays recovered from blowing a seven-run lead to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-7 on Sunday.

Guerrero's homer in the seventh came off reliever Kevin Ginkel (6-2), who had his scoreless streak of 10 2/3 innings snapped. The Blue Jays avoided a sweep after dropping the first two games of the series.

“You've got to stay focused,” Guerrero said through an interpreter. “If they tie the game like they did, you can't lose your concentration. I stayed focused, had a big at-bat and helped the team.”

Guerrero and Ernie Clement each had three hits. Genesis Cabrera, Trevor Richards (2-1), Ryan Burr, Brendon Little and Chad Green combined to throw 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Green got his sixth save, working around Christian Walker's two-out single.

“That was a weird game,” Toronto manager John Schneider said.

The D-backs trailed 7-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth before a seven-run eruption, highlighted by Ketel Marte's grand slam and Eugenio Suarez's tying, two-run single. Toronto's Yusei Kikuchi gave up all seven runs.

Marte's homer left his bat at 109.8 mph and traveled 443 feet, hitting the batter's eye high above the center field wall. The All-Star second baseman had three hits.

The Blue Jays tagged Arizona ace Zac Gallen for seven runs, including six earned, over 3 2/3 innings.

“We fall behind, but the guys didn't shut down and that's just one of the great characteristics of this team," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “They're hungry. They wanted to go out there and fight their way back into the game.”

Toronto appeared to take an insurmountable lead in the fourth, scoring six runs for a 7-0 advantage. Guerrero, Danny Jansen, Daulton Varsho and Clement started the inning with four straight singles before Leo Jimenez drew a walk to load the bases. Up next was Kiermaier, who turned on the first pitch he saw and launched it into the right-field seats.

It was Kiermaier's fourth homer of the season. The 34-year-old — a four-time Gold Glover — has had a largely disappointing season so far and was placed waivers Thursday.

“He's a baseball player, a veteran guy who understands the business of it,” Schneider said. “That's a big swing. Kevin's been doing that his whole career. Overcoming things. The last couple of days are another example of that.”

Gallen has struggled over his last three starts, giving up 13 earned runs over 13 innings. He gave up nine hits and a walk on Sunday, striking out one.

Kikuchi cruised through his first four innings before major trouble in the fifth. Jake McCarthy was the first batter of the inning, reaching on an infield single after Guerrero's throw to Kikuchi sailed behind the pitcher as he tried to cover first base.

Kikuchi appeared slightly shaken up after the play and could never recover. He was taken out after facing 10 batters in the fifth. The left-hander gave up the seven runs on six hits and three walks over 4 2/3 innings, striking out six.

“After that play, I took some time to regroup,” Kikuchi said through an interpreter. “It took a lot out of me. I felt like a lost my rhythm and balance.”

The Blue Jays took advantage of an error by Arizona shortstop Geraldo Perdomo in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. Varsho led off with a triple down the right-field line and then scored when Perdomo couldn't handle Clement's ground ball.

Schneider was ejected in the seventh by home plate umpire Gabe Morales for arguing about Varsho's check swing that was called a strike.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: Host Detroit on Friday night.

Diamondbacks: At the Chicago Cubs on Friday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider, right, argues with home plate umpire Gabe Morales (47) after Schneider was thrown out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Steward Berroa makes a diving catch on a fly ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr., left, celebrates his home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Blue Jays' George Springer during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, center, reacts after giving up a grand slam against Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte, left, as Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement (28) watches the home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suárez connects for a two-run single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suárez smiles as he celebrates his two-run single against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen throws against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, of Japan, flips his glove in the air as he walks off the field after being replaced during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr., right, celebrates his home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Blue Jays' Danny Jansen (9) during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, of Japan, warms up during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Kiermaier, center, celebrates his grand slam against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Blue Jays' Ernie Clement (28) and Daulton Varsho (25) during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — When Pope Francis begins his Asia tour next week, one of his early stops will be at Indonesia's iconic Istiqlal mosque.

The 87-year-old head of the Catholic Church will hold an interfaith meeting with representatives of the country's six officially recognized religions as the populous Southeast Asian nation faces growing challenges to its tolerant image.

Francis, who has suffered a slew of health problems and has become increasingly reliant on a wheelchair, has a rigorous schedule during his four-nation visit. He will start his trip in Jakarta on Sept. 3, where he will meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

In Istiqlal mosque, the Argentine Jesuit, known for promoting religious dialogue, will meet delegates of Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Protestantism. Indonesia’s constitution recognizes the latter two as separate religions. About 87% of the country’s 280 million people are Muslim, however, it has the third-largest Christian population in Asia after the Philippines and China. Only 2.9% of the total population is Catholic.

The mosque of Istiqlal, which means independence in Arabic, is the largest in Southeast Asia, covering over 22 acres (9 hectares). Its name is a constant reminder of the country’s fight against Dutch colonialists who ruled it for nearly 350 years. Across from the mosque lies the Roman Catholic neo-Gothic Our Lady of The Assumption Cathedral in Jakarta. The proximity of the two houses of worship is symbolic of how religions can peacefully coexist, according to official websites.

The mosque and cathedral are linked by an underpass known as the “Tunnel of Friendship,” about 28 meters (91 feet) in length and molded after a handshake gesture to symbolize religious tolerance. The pope is expected to walk through the tunnel.

Istiqlal mosque’s Grand Imam Nasaruddin Umar told The Associated Press that Francis choosing Indonesia as the first stop of his Asian visit makes “the Muslim community proud.” He also said they will use the pope’s visit “to discuss the common ground between religious communities and emphasize the commonalities between religions, ethnicities and beliefs.”

Umar acknowledged that an “increasingly plural society” like Indonesia can face more challenges, “but we need to know we live together under God.”

While Indonesia's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, over the past several years, its perception as a moderate Muslim nation has been undermined by flaring intolerance, from the imprisonment of Jakarta’s Christian governor for blasphemy, which resulted in a series of protests in 2016, to the canings of gay men in Aceh, a province that practices its version of Islamic Shariah law. There were also reports of violence against religious minorities, and some faith groups have been unable to secure building permits for places of worship.

Meanwhile, Cantika Syamsinur, a 23-year-old college student who had just finished praying in Istiqlal mosque and was on her way to the cathedral, said she welcomed the pope's visit and the interfaith meeting. “There are many religions in Indonesia and I hope we respect each other.”

Francis will be the third pope to visit Indonesia. The trip was originally planned for 2020 but was called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Four years of waiting is quite long," said Susyana Suwadie who heads the cathedral's museum, adding she was overwhelmed by emotions as she awaited the pope's visit. “This important historic moment is finally happening.”

Some are hopeful the pope's interreligious meeting will propel changes on a grassroots level.

Thomas Ulun Ismoyo, a Catholic Priest who is also the spokesperson for the Pope Francis Visitation Committee in Indonesia, said that religious leaders in Indonesia play a very significant role because the masses listen to them. He said he hopes the pope's visit “will lead to something good" and advocate for a better world where humanity and social justice are prized.

Andi Zahra Alifia Masdar, a 19-year-old college student in Jakarta, concurred: “We can be more accepting of each other, more tolerant, and able to live side by side, not always clashing."

A man walks in the shade at Istiqlal Mosque as the spires of the Our Lady of The Assumption Cathedral are seen in the background, in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

A man uses his mobile phone to take photos outside Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, where Pope Francis is scheduled to hold an interfaith meeting on Sept. 5. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Indonesian students wait for the start of Friday prayers at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

A man stands at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, where Pope Francis is scheduled to hold an interfaith meeting on Sept. 5. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

A man walks at Istiqlal Mosque after Friday prayers in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Muslim men leave after Friday prayers at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Muslim men perform Friday prayer at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

Muslim men attend Friday prayer at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, where Pope Francis is scheduled to hold an interfaith meeting on Sept. 5. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)