Bobby Witt Jr. doubled in two runs as the host Kansas City Royals rallied past the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-2, on Tuesday evening.
Trailing 2-0 with two outs in the fifth, the Royals took advantage of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s error. On a potential inning-ended grounder, Guerrero failed to catch third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s throw, allowing Michael Massey to score Kansas City’s first run.
After Maikel Garcia’s single, Witt followed with a two-run double to give Kansas City a 3-2 lead. The RBIs were Witt’s first since April 11, and it marked the Royals’ first lead in 32 innings.
The Blue Jays flooded the basepaths early against Royals starter Michael Wacha, putting eight runners on over the first three innings via five singles and three walks. However, Toronto stranded six while managing only one run on Justin Turner’s run-scoring infield single in the third.
Turner scored on Alejandro Kirk’s fifth-inning sacrifice fly for a 2-0 Blue Jays lead.
In 4 1/3 innings, Wacha allowed two runs on eight hits and three walks. He struck out four.
Toronto starter Kevin Gausman (0-3) — the reigning American League strikeout leader — didn’t fan a batter until the final out of the fourth. He pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing three unearned runs on seven hits and a walk, with two strikeouts.
Chris Stratton (2-1) recorded five outs on 13 pitches for the victory as three Royals relievers combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. James McArthur logged two of those innings to notch his fifth save of the season.
Kansas City went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left six on base.
Witt finished with three hits and Garcia had two for the Royals, who snapped a franchise-record seven-game losing streak against Toronto. Kansas City had last downed the Blue Jays on April 3, 2023.
George Springer had three singles and Turner had two of Toronto’s nine hits. The Blue Jays stranded 10 runners.
–Field Level Media
