KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Toronto Blue Jays bats went silent over the weekend.
Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson and Edwin Encarnacion did not have an extra-base hit or drive in a run in the three-game series at Kansas City.
Yordano Ventura pitched effectively into the seventh inning Sunday and Kendrys Morales hit a grand slam as the Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-1.
"Today was a little frustrating," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "It’s always tough to play here. They’re world champs. They’re that for a reason and they held us in check. We really haven’t been swinging that good since the beginning of the last homestand. We’ve been in kind of a rut, so we’re due to explode."
The fired duds against Ventura. Ventura (7-9), who was 0-5 in seven starts since a June 17 victory over the Detroit Tigers, limited the Blue Jays to one run and five singles in 6 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out four.
"It’s hard to be hot for 162," losing pitcher Marcus Stroman said. "Our guys are some of the best hitters in the league and we’re aware of that and the drought’s not going to last. It’s just one of those spurts and I’m sure they’ll break out pretty soon."
The Blue Jays had four hits and two walks in the first four innings, but wound up stranding eight men and went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position.
Morales’ third career grand slam and his first since July 30, 2012, while with the Los Angeles Angels came off left-hander Brett Cecil with two out in the eighth to break the game open. Raul Mondesi, Alcides Escobar and Cheslor Cuthbert led off the inning with singles. It appeared Toronto might escape unharmed after Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer struck out, but Morales hit Cecil’s first pitch out to straight-away centre.
Stroman (8-5) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings. He threw 95 pitches before being replaced by Scott Feldman.
Gibbons called it "a solid outing" by Stroman.
"He pitched good enough to win, and they made him work," Gibson said. "They beat us at their game, really. They threw out some hits, and the safety squeeze, things like that. Three runs in five innings, you’ll take that. What’d we score, one? There you go."
Drew Butera and Mondesi delivered run-producing singles in the second. Butera cracked his bat on his hit to bring home Alex Gordon, while Mondesi’s bunt single scored Paulo Orlando, who logged his fourth straight multi-hit game.
"They’re a dynamic team with their speed," Stroman said. "They don’t have to beat you with homers. They’re looking to move the ball, move guys. Very fast and they put the ball in play.
Escobar homered — only his second of the season — to lead off the fifth.
Ventura was pulled after walking Darwin Barney and giving up a single to Devon Travis with two out in the seventh. Peter Moylan replaced Ventura and struck out Jose Bautista, but not before a wild pitch allowed Barney to score.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: CF Kevin Pillar jammed his left thumb sliding into second base Saturday and not in the lineup as a precaution.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: RHP R.A. Dickey, who is second in the AL with 12 losses, will start against the Rays in the opener of a six-game homestand. Tampa Bay will start RHP Jake Odorizzi.
Royals: After a day off Monday, Edinson Volquez will start Tuesday against the White Sox. Volquez has a 9.82 ERA in losing his past two starts.
