Toronto upends Kansas City 13-1
The Toronto Blue Jays bounced back from an extra-inning loss to Kansas City Monday night to beat the Royals 13-1 on Tuesday. Jose Bautista was the big hitter for the Blue Jays, going 3 for 6 with five RBIs. Jays' starting pitcher Jesse Litsch, who only pitched twice last season due to an elbow injury, picked up his first win since 2008 and is now 1-5 on the season. With the win, the Blue Jays improved to 48-46 on the season and stayed within 11 games of the New York Yankees in the AL East. The Royals fell to 40-53 on the year and are now 12 games behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.
Bautista got his bat swinging early when he connected for a two-run home run in the top of the first. Fred Lewis had an RBI double in the top of the second which moved John Buck over to third base, and Bautista knocked him in with an infield single. Lyle Overbay grounded out in the top of the third but still scored a run and moved Aaron Hill into scoring position. Hill was then brought in off of Edwin Encarnacion's RBI double to deep center, and the Blue Jays led 6-0.
Kansas City didn't score until the bottom of the sixth when Alberto Callaspo hit an RBI single to score David Dejesus from second for the Royals' only run of the night. In the top of the eighth, the Blue Jays finished up their scoring with an RBI double by Encarnacion, a two-run double by Bautista and a two-run home run from Adam Lind.
Royals starter Anthony Lerew injured
Lerew was lifted after just one and a third, and it wasn't because of the four runs he gave up. Encarnacion hit a line drive right back to the mound that hit Lerew in the side. Lerew was able to make the play at first for the out, but he left the game without even attempting some warmup pitches. The official report was bruised ribs and a contusion on his right bicep.
"Nothing is broken. It looks a lot worse than it is, especially the bicep," he said afterwards. "The ribs hurt more than the bicep even though the bicep looks worse.
"I've never come out of a game from being hurt before. I knew it was going to hurt. It still hurts. I thought the ball may still be lodged in my ribs."
Bautista heating up
Buck had three triples in the game, but left all the praise for Bautista. The two were teammates in Kansas City six years ago and is glad Bautista has finally come into his own.
"The tools were always there," he said. "I think every team he's been with has always said that. It was just that who was going to be the team that lets him develop and become who he is now. Luckily, for the Blue Jays, the Blue Jays are the one."
"It [2004] was definitely a weird year for me because I wasn't getting a lot of playing time and the previous year I was in A-Ball," Bautista said. "I was in no-man's land mentally. It's been awhile and obviously I'm a better ball player now than I was then. I'm just glad I'm having a good year."
Bautista's home run was good for the MLB lead, his 26th of the season. He's also hit five in the past 10 games. His manager, Cito Gaston, doesn't think he'll slow down.
"He keeps going," he said. "I hope he gets 40. I'm very happy for him. He's hit 36 home runs in little over a half of a year. He has that kind of power."
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