Toronto moved a half-game ahead of Baltimore in the American League East, pending the Orioles-White Sox outcome. The plummeting Royals have lost seven of nine and fell a season-worst seven games under .500.
Royals right-hander Dillon Gee turned in his best overall start of the season, going six innings and giving up four hits and three runs. He walked four and struck out two. It was his first quality start in eight tries.
Now walk it out: Patience paid off for the Blue Jays in the third. After Jose Bautista lined out to left, Josh Donaldson worked the count full and then walked after seeing eight pitches from Gee. He was one-upped by Edwin Encarnacion, who saw 10 pitches before drawing a walk. Those quality at-bats set the stage for Saunders, who doubled in a run. Troy Tulowitzki plated another with a groundout to short, as the Blue Jays went up 3-1.
Huge caught stealing: Orlando reached second base in the ninth off closer Joaquin Benoit when Barney committed a two-base error with one out. Orlando tried to steal third, but was thrown out by catcher Russell Martin. Jarrod Dyson followed with a pinch-hit single that likely would have scored Orlando easily with the tying run.
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Blue Jays' last 15 home runs have been solo shots. They entered the game one back of a club record set in 2000 for longest streak of solo home runs. They eclipsed the previous mark after Travis' second home run of the game.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
With one out and none on in the ninth, Darwin Barney hit a ground ball toward third base and sprinted to first. After the ball whizzed by the glove of Royals third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert, shortstop Alcides Escobar swooped in and made a terrific throw to first to record the out. The play was confirmed after a short review.
WHAT'S NEXT
Blue Jays: Right-hander Aaron Sanchez (11-1, 2.71 ERA) will take the mound on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET for the second game of the series at Kauffman Stadium. Earlier in the week, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Sanchez would like move to the bullpen, but he announced later that the team would instead go with a six-man rotation.
Royals: Left-hander Danny Duffy (7-1, 2.98) will get the ball for the rematch against the Blue Jays on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. CT. Duffy enters the game fresh off his best career start, as he struck out a franchise record 16 against the Rays on Monday, giving up just one hit and one walk. The Royals have won in each of Duffy's last seven starts and are 12-3 with him as a starter in 2016.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.
Liriano sets down Gordon
TOR@KC: Liriano records first K with the Blue Jays
Francisco Liriano gets Alex Gordon looking in the 2nd inning, picking up his first strikeout as a member of the Blue Jays
Left-hander Francisco Liriano made his first start for the Blue Jays since being acquired from the Pirates at the non-waiver Trade Deadline. He was sharp, giving up seven hits and two earned runs through six innings. He walked two and struck out five.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Travis' blast: With the scored tied at 3 and two out in the ninth inning, Travis' second blast of the game traveled an estimated 373 feet and left the bat with an exit velocity of 98 miles per hour, according to Statcast™. The Blue Jays attempted to tack on to the slim lead with a two-out rally, loading the bases for Michael Saunders, but he struck out to end the ninth.
Cain's RBI triple
TOR@KC: Cain triples to center to knock in Cuthbert
Lorenzo Cain rips a triple to the center-field wall in the bottom of the 5th, scoring Cheslor Cuthbert and tying the score at 3
A mini rally: The Royals have been so hard-pressed for offense that when they score two runs in an inning, it's newsworthy. That happened in the fifth. Paulo Orlando led off with his third homer of the season. Then with two out, Cheslor Cuthbert drew a walk. Lorenzo Cain followed with a rope into the left-center-field alley for an RBI triple.
Now walk it out: Patience paid off for the Blue Jays in the third. After Jose Bautista lined out to left, Josh Donaldson worked the count full and then walked after seeing eight pitches from Gee. He was one-upped by Edwin Encarnacion, who saw 10 pitches before drawing a walk. Those quality at-bats set the stage for Saunders, who doubled in a run. Troy Tulowitzki plated another with a groundout to short, as the Blue Jays went up 3-1.
Huge caught stealing: Orlando reached second base in the ninth off closer Joaquin Benoit when Barney committed a two-base error with one out. Orlando tried to steal third, but was thrown out by catcher Russell Martin. Jarrod Dyson followed with a pinch-hit single that likely would have scored Orlando easily with the tying run.
Martin throws out Orlando
TOR@KC: Barney makes great pickup on tag at third
Russell Martin nabs Paulo Orlando attempting to steal third base in the bottom of the 9th, with Darwin Barney applying a great tag
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Blue Jays' last 15 home runs have been solo shots. They entered the game one back of a club record set in 2000 for longest streak of solo home runs. They eclipsed the previous mark after Travis' second home run of the game.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
With one out and none on in the ninth, Darwin Barney hit a ground ball toward third base and sprinted to first. After the ball whizzed by the glove of Royals third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert, shortstop Alcides Escobar swooped in and made a terrific throw to first to record the out. The play was confirmed after a short review.
Escobar's jump throw gets Barney
TOR@KC: Escobar makes a sterling play, call confirmed
Alcides Escobar ranges into the hole and makes a jump throw to get Darwin Barney, and the call is confirmed after the Blue Jays challenge
WHAT'S NEXT
Blue Jays: Right-hander Aaron Sanchez (11-1, 2.71 ERA) will take the mound on Saturday at 7:15 p.m. ET for the second game of the series at Kauffman Stadium. Earlier in the week, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins said Sanchez would like move to the bullpen, but he announced later that the team would instead go with a six-man rotation.
Royals: Left-hander Danny Duffy (7-1, 2.98) will get the ball for the rematch against the Blue Jays on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. CT. Duffy enters the game fresh off his best career start, as he struck out a franchise record 16 against the Rays on Monday, giving up just one hit and one walk. The Royals have won in each of Duffy's last seven starts and are 12-3 with him as a starter in 2016.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.
Jeffrey Flanagan has covered the Royals since 1991, and for MLB.com since 2015. Follow him on Twitter @FlannyMLB.
Scott Chasen is a reporter for MLB.com based in Kansas City and covered the Blue Jays on Friday.
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Travis' first multi-HR game powers Blue Jays
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