Kansas City, MO – Emilio Bonifacio went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while two Toronto relievers combined for four scoreless and hitless innings to lift the Blue Jays to an 8-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
The Jays overcame a rough start from J.A. Happ (2-0), who picked up the win despite allowing four runs and three walks in five innings of work. Sergio Santos pitched a perfect sixth before Aaron Loup picked up his first career save with three perfect innings of his own to close out the game.
Jose Reyes picked up two RBI and a stolen base for Toronto before leaving the game with an ankle injury he suffered while sliding into second base in the sixth inning. Adam Lind also had two RBI for the Blue Jays, who have won two of three.
"He felt something pop," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons about Reyes. "It's a nightmare. He's a big part of this team. He's in a lot of ways the face of this team, so we've got to deal with it. This train keeps moving."
Lorenzo Cain had two RBI for the Kansas City, which had a four-game winning streak come to an end.
Luis Mendoza (0-1) picked up the loss after yielding eight runs - seven earned - over 5 2/3 innings.
"We made some plays that weren't so pretty," said Kansas City manager Ned Yost. "We threw the ball around a little bit, but that happens on occasion. But you won't see it very often with us."
The Blue Jays struck first in the top of the first inning when J.P. Arencibia drove a 1-0 Mendoza offering to left field for a single that plated Melky Cabrera, who had taken third base on a poor throw down to second from Royals' catcher Salvador Perez on a steal attempt. Lind followed with a double down the first base line that scored Edwin Encarnacion.
Perez made up for his errant throw, at least for the time being, when he roped a double to right-center field with two men on base in the bottom of the first. Alex Gordon scored easily from second while Billy Butler advanced to third. Happ then walked Mike Moustakas to load the bases.
After Happ blew a fastball past Jeff Francoeur for a strikeout, Cain came through with a two-RBI single up the middle, giving Kansas City a 3-2 lead. Miguel Tejada grounded out to end the frame.
Colby Rasmus doubled to lead off the second inning and Bonifacio followed with a double of his own to deep right field, bringing some Rasmus. Bonifacio also scored on the play after Perez's second throwing error of the evening.
Lind's sacrifice fly in next inning made it 5-3 in favor of the Jays.
Kansas City tacked on its final run in the bottom of the fifth, when Alcides Escobar roped an RBI double to deep left field.
The Blue Jays added to their lead in the sixth inning when Bonifacio hit another RBI double, this one to center. Reyes then singled up the middle, bringing in two more runs to extend the lead to 8-4.
Game Notes
The Royals now have just two RBI from the No. 4 hitter in the lineup this season ... Toronto went 5-for-8 with runners in scoring position ... The Blue Jays scored first for just the second time this season ... Jose Bautista went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts for the Blue Jays.
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