Toronto dropped their 5th game in a row against the Kansas City Royals on Friday 8-4. They were so close to taking this game from KC that they could taste it but lost in the late innings. The loss keeps them in last place of the AL East and they continue to struggle to get the offense rolling.
Scott Rolen returned to the Blue Jay lineup and had a solid return after suffering a hand injury before the season began. He went 1-for-3 with 2 RBI. His return is going to be vital for the Jays because they are struggling quite a bit to get the offense clicking. Alex Rios also had a nice game for the club going 2-for-4 with a run scored. His batting average is now up to an impressive .305 as he continues to improve after the massive deal he inked at the beginning of the season. Lyle Overbay also went 2-for-4 including a solo-homer off Zack Greinke in the 7th. The homer was his 1st of the season and the RBI give him 6. Vernon Wells also brought in a run but went 0-for-4 in the game. His RBI total is now at 17 but his batting average has dropped to .277. The Jays only recorded 8 hits but were in the lead into the bottom of the 8th. The new look Kansas City Royals didn’t give up though collecting 6 runs to take an 8-4 lead and the game.
A.J. Burnett took the mound for Toronto and pitched a solid game. He worked 7 1/3rds innings allowing 8 hits, 5 runs, 3 earned, 3 walks, and 6 K’s. He took the loss for the Jays bringing his record to 2-2 this season and his ERA to 6.07. Scott Downs came in for Burnett with the lead but was stung for 3 hits, 3 runs, all earned and 1 walk. He didn’t even make it out of the inning, actually he didn’t even record an out. He was given the blown save giving him 1 for the season and bringing his ERA to 3.27. Zack Greinke got the start for KC and pitched a very strong game going 7 innings deep only allowing 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, and 4 K’s. His only slip up was the solo-homer Overbay hit. He didn’t get the win because after he left the game the lead he worked to get was given up by Leo Nunez. Nunez had a rather interesting game for the Royals recording both a blown save and a win. He was given a blown save because when he came in his team had 2-1 lead. He gave up 3 runs in the top of the 8th to Blue Jay hitters but was let off the hook when KC struck for 6 runs and the game. The win is his 2nd of the season and the blown save was his 1st.
Almost a streak ender but Toronto pitching collapsed, giving the game up and continuing the slide. They will try and break the losing in game 2 vs KC on Saturday.
