Morales slam powers Royals past Jays
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kendrys Morales hit an eighth inning grand slam and Yordano Ventura pitched a sturdy 6 2/3 innings as the Kansas City Royals topped the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1 at Kauffman Stadium on Sunday.
Ventura, who claimed his first win since June 17, was charged with one run on five hits and four walks, throwing 106 pitches.
The Royals seized a 2-0 lead in the second. Morales drew a walk to lead off the inning, but was forced out at second on an Alex Gordon comebacker. Paulo Orlando singled with Gordon stopping at second. Drew Butera's broken bat single to right-center scored Gordon and advanced Orlando to third. Raul Mondesi's bunt single got Gordon home and Orlando advanced to third when pitcher Marcus Stroman's throw sailed over first baseman Edwin Encarnacion's head.
It could have been a bigger inning, but a Mondesi base running blunder squelched that. Mondesi, who stole second, took off for third on Alcides Escobar's ground out to Encarnacion, but Butera did not break for home. Butera was out in a rundown.
Escobar made it 3-0 in the fifth, which he led off with a home run, his first in 146 at-bats and his second of the season.
The Blue Jays got on the board in the seventh and chased Ventura. After retiring the first two batters, Ventura walked No. 9 hitter Darwin Barney. Devon Travis' single moved Barney to third base and Ned Yost to the mound to bring in Peter Moylan. Barney scored on a Moylan wild pitch, but Jose Bautista went down swinging to end the inning.
Marcus Stroman (8-5) soaked up the loss, permitting three runs on seven hits, including Escobar's home run, walked two and struck out four.
NOTES: Retiring Alex Rodriguez hit .329 with a .644 slugging percentage, 50 home runs and 131 RBIs in 156 career games against the Royals. ... CF Kevin Pillar injured his left thumb going into second base Saturday and was not in the Blue Jays' starting lineup Sunday. Pillar is optimistic he will play Monday. ... C Drew Butera made his 21st start Sunday as Royals All-Star C Salvador Perez received the day off. ... Kansas City LHP Danny Duffy has emerged victorious in seven straight decisions, the longest winning streak by a member of the Royals since RHP Jeremy Guthrie won 10 in a row from Aug. 8, 2012-May 9, 2013. ... The Blue Jays return home Monday and will start RHP R.A. Dickey against Tampa Bay. The Rays will counter with RHP Jake Odorizzi. ... The Royals are idle Monday before continuing this homestand Tuesday with three games against the Chicago White Sox.