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Royals ‘slam’ door on series win vs. Blue Jays
- Updated: August 8, 2016
KANSAS CITY — The drought is over, and it ended in spectacular fashion.
Entering Sunday, more than 45 days had passed since the Royals won a series of three or more games. That stretch ended with a 7-1 win over the Blue Jays in the rubber game, as Kansas City plated two runs in the second inning and piled on with Kendrys Morales’ third career grand slam in the seventh.
It was the first time the Royals scored more than four runs in a game since July 27. It also was their first series win of at least three games since beating the Tigers in a set on June 16-19. Kansas City also won a two-game series against the Cardinals to close out June.
• Grand slams mean 40% off pizza
While the bats came alive, the pitching was just as sharp. Royals right-hander Yordano Ventura, who pitched in a win for just the second time since June 17, went 6 2/3 innings and gave up five hits and one run in earning his seventh victory. Alcides Escobar also hit his second home run.
“To get into the seventh scoreless against that lineup was great,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “I wouldn’t say that he beared down because he did from the first pitch. But he made better pitches when he needed to. He ended up walking two or three guys [four], but he was just missing. He did a great job of not giving in.”
The Royals pulled within eight games of an American League Wild Card spot, while the Blue Jays dropped one game back of the Orioles atop the AL East, after the O’s defeated the White Sox.
“Today was a little bit frustrating, but it’s always tough playing here,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “They held us in check.”
Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman took the loss. He gave up three runs in five innings, as Toronto dropped to 4-8 in his last 12 starts.
MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDPicking up his teammates: Just like Eric Hosmer picked up his teammates on Saturday night by drilling a go-ahead two-run single, Morales bailed out Lorenzo Cain and Hosmer with his grand slam on Sunday — Statcast™ estimated it traveled 459 feet from home plate with an exit velocity of 109 mph. The Royals had loaded the bases with none …
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