By MATT PIKE
The Kansas City Royals used a big extra innings frame, with clutch hits from Kyle Isbel and Tyler Tolbert among others, to clinch their fourth series win in a row beating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 to end the first series of a nine game road trip.
The Blue Jays opened up the scoring as they battled back and forth with the Royals, scoring in the second inning on an RBI single by Myles Straw that drove in Bo Bichette, after Bichette led the inning off with a walk. Kansas City came back to tie up the game in the fourth inning with Vinnie Pasquantino scoring on a sacrifice fly by Mike Yastrzemski.
Toronto took the lead back in the fifth inning with two outs in the inning, Ernie Clement scoring after his leadoff walk to the inning on an RBI single by Joey Loperfido. The Blue Jays held that lead until the Royals tied the game again in the eighth, an RBI single by Pasquantino driving in Bobby Witt Jr after his two out double, tying the game at 2-2 where it would remain through nine innings, forcing the rubber match into extra innings.
Randal Grichuk started the 10th inning at second base, and on the first pitch against reliever Seranthony Domínguez, Kyle Isbel laced a double down the right field line, scoring Grichuk for the go ahead run. The bases would end up loaded after Jonathan India was hit by a pitch and Witt Jr walked, and Tolbert, who had pinch ran for Pasquantino after his RBI single, delivered a two RBI single scoring Isbel and India. Witt Jr went first to third on the single, and scored as catcher Alejandro Kirk attempted to pick him off at third, overthrowing the third baseman, also allowing Tolbert to race from first to third. Tolbert scored the final run of the frame on a sacrifice fly by Maikel Garcia.
Carlos Estévez took the mound in the bottom half of the inning for Kansas City with the Royals leading by five, but that lead was reduced right away to start the frame on an RBI single by Nathan Lukes driving in Straw. Estévez did get two outs, striking out Loperfido and getting Vladimir Guerrero Jr to pop out, but Lukes moved to second on defensive indifference, and later scored on an RBI single by Addison Barger. With runners on the corners, Estévez forced Kirk to ground out ending the game.
Hunter Harvey earned the win in relief, his first win of the season moving to 1-0, pitching one inning and giving up one hit while striking out one. At the plate, Isbel was 2-for-4 with the double and one RBI. Tolbert was 1-for-1 with two RBIs.
Kansas City now travels to Boston on the road trip. Bailey Falter (7-5, 3.73 ERA) makes his Royals debut starting for Kansas City against Brayan Bello (7-5, 3.19 ERA) for the Red Sox. First pitch is at 6:10pm, pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.