Field Level Media
Jul 29, 2019
Cavan Biggio hit a go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning and added an RBI single in a three-run ninth as the visiting Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Kansas City Royals 7-3 Monday night.
Teoscar Hernandez also hit a solo home run and Randal Grichuk hit a two-run shot and had three RBIs for the Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series.
Tim Mayza (1-1) pitched around a single in the seventh inning to earn the win.
Toronto left-hander Thomas Pannone, recalled from Triple-A Buffalo after Marcus Stroman was traded Sunday, allowed three runs, five hits and one walk while striking out four in six innings.
Royals starter Brad Keller (7-10), who had won his three previous starts and four straight decisions, allowed four runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out five in seven-plus innings.
Toronto shortstop Bo Bichette, who had his contract selected from Buffalo after Eric Sogard was traded Sunday, singled in his first career major league at-bat in the second inning. He finished 1-for-4.
Cam Gallagher doubled, then Whit Merrifield hit a two-out RBI single to give the Royals a 1-0 lead in the third.
Hernandez tied the score in the fifth with his 15th homer of the season.
Grichuk's 17th homer this season followed Biggio's leadoff single in the sixth to give the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead.
The Royals tied the score at 3 in the bottom of the sixth. Hunter Dozier walked with one out and took third on Jorge Soler's double. Cheslor Cuthbert hit a two-run single off the third baseman's glove.
Toronto regained the lead on Biggio's eighth homer, leading off the eighth. Grichuk followed with a triple. Scott Barlow replaced Keller and produced three strikeouts around one walk to strand the runners.
Toronto's Justin Shafer pitched around a walk in the bottom of the eighth.
Josh Staumont allowed a walk and a single in the top of the ninth and was replaced by Tim Hill, who allowed RBI singles by Biggio and Grichuk and an RBI groundout by Justin Smoak.
Derek Law pitched around a walk in the bottom of the ninth.
--Field Level Media