After reaping an immediate reward from a trade-deadline deal, the Kansas City Royals are positioned Saturday afternoon to clinch their three-game series against the host Toronto Blue Jays.
Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-run home run in the second inning Friday night in his first plate appearance for the Royals. The outfielder was obtained from the San Francisco Giants, the trade just beating the clock by about 90 seconds in the Royals’ final deal on Thursday.
Yastrzemski’s was the first of four homers Friday by the Royals, who won the series opener 9-3. Bobby Witt Jr. launched a three-run shot, Adam Frazier a two-run blast, and Salvador Perez a solo homer.
Frazier is another recent Royals acquisition, joining them on July 16.
Yastrzemski said: “It was the first time I was able to relax today just getting back on the field. It was nice to put a couple of good swings on the ball and have a little bit of an impact here.”
Witt was impressed.
“What Yaz did in showing up and hitting a homer,” Witt said. “… Shout out to him coming off the plane and doing that to put together a professional at-bat.”
Starter Kevin Gausman and reliever Mason Fluharty allowed two homers each in alarming trend for Toronto.
“I think the biggest thing we have to get going is on the mound,” manager John Schneider said. “That is 16 home runs in the last five or six games, so it’s tough to catch a ball when it’s in the seats.”
Royals starter Michael Wacha turned in a brilliant eight-inning outing in which he allowed one run on three hits. The win left the Royals at .500 for the first time since June 20, when they were 38-38.
In three starts since the All-Star break, Wacha is 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA.
“We knew Wacha was going to go out there and be Wacha,” Witt said. “And so, we got to put some runs on the board and enjoy it.”
The Royals have won three games in a row while the Blue Jays have dropped five of six.
Kansas City is scheduled to start left-handed rookie Noah Cameron (5-4, 2.44 ERA) in the middle game of the series. He has never faced Toronto, which is slated to go with right-hander Max Scherzer (1-1, 4.89). He is 13-5 with a 3.22 ERA in 23 career starts against the Royals.
The Blue Jays used two players obtained from the Minnesota Twins before the deadline in the loss on Friday. Reliever Louis Varland pitched a perfect seventh, and designated hitter Ty France was 0-for-4.
“I’m excited. This is a great baseball team,” France said of joining the American League East-leading Blue Jays. “It’s always nice coming into a winning environment, a winning atmosphere. You can’t ask for more than playing meaningful baseball at this time of the year. I’m excited to be here, and we’ll see where things go.”
Toronto center fielder Daulton Varsho was activated from the injured list and was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on Friday. In another move, Toronto put outfielder George Springer on the seven-day concussion list. Catcher Alejandro Kirk (concussion) could return this weekend.
Kansas City reinstated infielder/outfielder Nick Loftin from the concussion IL and optioned outfielder MJ Melendez to Triple-A Omaha.
Loftin was 0-for-1 as a pinch hitter and played third base in the ninth.
–Field Level Media
