By MATT PIKE
Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez each homered helping the Kansas City Royals avoid a three game sweep, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-1 at Kauffman Stadium.
After suffering back-to-back losses, including one on the road in Toronto, Royals starter Randy Dobnak bounced back earning the win, improving to 3-3 on the season, allowing one run over six innings while striking out three and walking none. Three of the four hits he gave up came in his last inning of work. Kansas City backed Dobnak's strong start right away in the bottom of the first after a single by John Rave and a walk to Bobby Witt Jr, when Pasquantino hit his 11th home run of the season, a three run shot to right center.
In the third inning, Witt Jr. led off with a line-drive double off the wall in left field and one out later, Perez extended the lead, bouncing a drive off the top of the fence in nearly the same spot for a two-run home run and a 5-0 lead. The Royals added their final run in the fifth inning on an infield single by Nick Loftin after a walk to Pasquantino and Perez being hit by a pitch, Loftin's single scoring Pasquantino.
Once Toronto got to Dobnak in the sixth inning, Josh Smith hit his fifth home run of the season for the lone Blue Jays run. Anthony Gose, Jose Cuas, Connor Thomas, and Nolan Hoffman followed Dobnak out of the bullpen, each giving up one hit each. Gose also walked a batter, while Thomas struck out two. The win by the Royals knocked Toronto out of a playoff position, one day after the Blue Jays pulled into a tie for the final AL Wildcard spot with the Cleveland Guardians.
At the plate, Witt Jr was 2-for-4 with a double and a walk, scoring two runs. Pasquantino was 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs, walking twice. Perez was 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs, while Loftin was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Kansas City will stay home next and host the Arizona Diamondbacks, starting tomorrow. Noah Cameron (9-8, 4.08 ERA, 138Ks) is set to start for the Royals while the Diamondbacks have yet to announce a starter. First pitch will be at 1:10pm, pregame will air at 12:30pm on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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