The Toronto Blue Jays gave the Kansas City Royals no chance at Rogers Center on Friday, beating them 8-1.
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It was in their third and fifth rounds at bat that the crowd favorites hurt the visitors particularly badly, adding three runs to the board in each of those innings, each time with a three-run long ball.
On the third outing, Teoscar Hernandez gave Toronto fans a boost by sending starting pitcher Zack Greinke (3-6) out of bounds, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk were on the trails.
In the fifth inning, it was Matt Chapman who had a field day, on a throw from reliever Carlos Hernandez, while Bo Bichette and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. each occupied a cushion.
Kirk and Raimel Tapia drove in the other winners’ runs, each time with a single.
On the mound, Alek Manoah (10-4) reached the 10-win plateau this season, pitching seven innings, passing six opponents in the mitt. He gave up the only opposing run on four hits.
The two teams will continue this series of four matches on Saturday, before concluding it the following day.
Sandy Alcantara can’t do it all alone
At LoanDepot Park, despite a masterful performance from their starting gunner Sandy Alcantara, the Miami Marlins were unable to have the best of the Philadelphia Phillies, who won 2-1.
The crowd-favorite pitcher was on the mound for eight innings, passing an impressive 12 opponents in the mitt. He is the one who allowed the two opposing runs, on four hits and two walks. Alcantara (9-4) still saw defeat add to its record.
It was in the seventh round that things went wrong for the 26-year-old athlete. After recording the first out, he allowed Rhys Hoskins and Nick Castellanos to hit the trails with a walk and a single, respectively. Then, Daric Hall allowed the first to score with a double, while the second was pinned at home plate on the same play. Hall then completed his own lap after a double from J.T. Realmuto, giving the same shot the lead 2 to 1 to his own.
On the side of the Marlins, Bryan De La Cruz produced the only point of his team, on a sacrifice ball in the second inning. The home side tried to come back in the ninth inning, filling the bases with just one out, but pitcher Seranthony Dominguez was able to limit the damage and earn his fourth save of the season. Starter Kyle Gibson (5-3) picked up the win.
