Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Kevin Pillar (11) is joined by right fielder Jose Bautista (19) and left fielder Ezequiel Carrera (3) as they celebrate an 11-3 win over the Miami Marlins at Rogers Centre.Dan Hamilton
First baseman Chris Colabello extended his hit streak to 18 games and the Toronto Blue Jays scored six runs in the first for an 11-3 win over the Miami Marlins on Monday, extending their win streak to six.
Designated hitter Josh Donaldson homered and had three runs batted in for the Blue Jays (29-30). Right-hander Marco Estrada (3-3) pitched seven innings for his second winning start in a row. He allowed seven hits and three runs in the opener of the three-game interleague series.
Designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton homered for Miami (24-34). Marlins left-hander Brad Hand (1-2) allowed six hits and six runs in two-thirds of an inning.
It was the first game between the teams since they made a blockbuster trade on Nov. 19, 2012.
The Blue Jays sent catcher Jeff Mathis, shortstops Adeiny Hechavarria and Yunel Escobar, pitchers Henderson Alvarez, Justin Nicolino and Anthony DeSclafani and outfielder Jake Marisnick to the Marlins.
Toronto received shortstop Jose Reyes, pitchers Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson, infielder Emilio Bonifacio, and catcher John Buck from Miami.
The Blue Jays scored six runs in a first inning that was started by a single by Reyes and a one-out single by right fielder Jose Bautista. Colabello then extended his hit streak to 18 games with an RBI single.
Catcher Russell Martin walked, third baseman Danny Valencia hit a two-run double and centre-fielder Kevin Pillar hit a two-run single.
After second baseman Munenori Kawasaki hit a two-out RBI double, Hand was replaced by right-hander Andre Rienzo.
Donaldson led off the second with his 16th homer of the season.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, who was celebrating his 53rd birthday, was ejected from the game in the second after Bautista struck out on a checked swing. Gibbons argued that Bautista had held back his swing.
Third baseman Martin Prado led off the fourth with a single and Stanton followed with his 19th homer of the season to cut the lead to 7-2.
Toronto scored an unearned run in the fifth to go ahead 8-2. Martin and Pillar walked and left-fielder Ezequiel Carrera forced Pillar out at second. Carrera stole second and Martin came home on catcher J.T. Realmuto's errant throw.
Stanton doubled and centre-fielder Marcell Ozuna singled to produce a sixth-inning run for Miami.
The Blue Jays scored three in the seventh against right-hander Vin Mazzaro on doubles by Valencia and Carrera, walks to Kawasaki and Reyes, and a two-run single by Donaldson.
Notes: 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion (sore left shoulder) was not in the Blue Jays' starting lineup for the second game in a row Monday after having a cortisone shot on Saturday. He could return Tuesday. 3B Josh Donaldson was designated hitter for the Blue Jays Monday with INF/OF Danny Valencia starting at third base. The Marlins put RHP Bryan Morris (lower back strain) on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Sunday and recalled LHP Adam Conley from triple-A New Orleans. In 10 starts at New Orleans, Conley was 5-2 with a 3.05 ERA. RHP Dan Haren (6-2, 3.18 ERA) will start Tuesday for the Marlins in the middle game of the three-game series against Blue Jays LHP Mark Buehrle (7-4, 4.35 ERA).