The Kansas City Royals plated five runners in the tenth inning to upend the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 on Sunday, Aug. 3 at Rogers Centre, returning to .500 for the first time since June 20 while claiming their fourth straight series win.
Kyle Isbel turned Seranthony Domínguez’ first pitch of the extra frame into a double that brought home Randal Grichuk. After Jonathan India was hit by a pitch, Bobby Witt Jr drew a walk to load the bases. The three runners would score on a Tyler Tolbert single, a wild throw on a pickoff attempt by catcher Alejandro Kirk, and a Maikel Garcia sacrifice fly.
The Royals had to come from behind to force the extra inning, as Toronto brought home a run in the second inning after Royals starter Seth Lugo gave up two walks and a single to load the bases. Myles Straw delivered the RBI single to score Bo Bichette. However, Daulton Varsho was caught in a rundown between third base and home, and eventually was tagged out to end the inning. Toronto’s Chris Bassitt loaded the bases in the fourth with two walks and a hit by pitch, allowing Mike Yastrzemski to provide a sacrifice fly to score Vinnie Pasquantino for Kansas City’s first run.
Toronto retook the lead on a Joey Loperfido single in the fifth inning, while Kansas City tied the game back up in the eighth when Witt’s two-out double was followed by an RBI single from Pasquantino. After the Royals’ five-run outburst, Toronto responded with an RBI single from Nathan Lukes to start off the inning, then an RBI single from Addison Barger.
Hunter Harvey pitched a scoreless ninth to get his first win as a Royal, allowing a hit while recording a punchout. Lugo went 4.2 innings, allow two runs on four hits while walking four and striking out three. Bassitt recorded just one run and one hit in six innings, striking out five but allowing three walks. Domínguez failed to a record an out as he took the loss, with three of his five runs earned after allowing two hits and a walk.
The Royals are at 56-56 on the year, trailing Detroit by nine games in the AL Central while three-and-a-half games behind Seattle for the third wild card. Bailey Falter is scheduled to make his Royals debut Monday evening at Fenway Park in Boston, when the Royals take on the Red Sox. Pregame coverage will begin at 5:30 p.m., with first pitch at 6:10 p.m., on KMMO-FM 102.9.