Bo Bichette hit a triple that pushed three teammates to the plate, Daulton Varsho hit a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Kansas City Royals 5-3 on Monday.
The Blue Jays have won seven of their last nine games, while the Royals lost their third straight home game after a nine-game winning streak at Kauffman Stadium.
Yusei Kikuchi (2-1) was efficient on the mound, allowing only one batter to hit the field in 48 pitches over the first five innings.
He put himself in a difficult situation in the sixth, giving up a two-run long ball to Maikel Garcia. With two outs, Vinnie Pasquantino singled and Salvador Perez followed with a double. But Kikuchi retired Nelson Velazquez with a grounder to end the threat.
Jordan Romano gave up a solo homer to Kyle Isbel in the ninth, but still recorded his third save of the season.
Brady Singer (2-1) allowed five runs and five hits in six innings on the mound. He fanned five batters and allowed three walks.
With two strikeouts in the second, Singer became the 19the pitcher in Royals history to reach the 500 mark in his career. However, he is the fastest to get there, in 100 games, tied with Steve Busby.
Recalled from the Omaha Storm Chasers at the AAA level earlier in the day, right-handed pitcher Tyler Duffey struck out three batters in two scoreless relief innings.
Singer gave away two free passes in the third that hurt his team. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s walk loaded the bases, and Bichette emptied them with his triple to center field.
Varsho’s homer made it 5-0 in the sixth.