Blue Jays 9 Royals 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a grand slam in the ninth inning to give him a career-high five RBIs, Sean Reid-Foley tossed five innings of four-hit ball, and the Toronto Blue Jays pounded the Kansas City Royals 9-2 on Tuesday night.
Freddy Galvis drove in a pair of runs with a broken-bat single, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also had an RBI for the Blue Jays, who clinched their first winning series at Kauffman Stadium since April 2013.
Meanwhile, the Royals stranded 14 while going 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position.
Reid-Foley (1-1), making just his third start of the season, dominated the Royals much as he did in late June. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed four hits and walked four while striking out four, and if not for a pitch count that had already reached 92, he might have gone farther.
No problem. The Blue Jays’ bullpen — and Guerrero’s big blow — took any drama out of things.
The Royals’ Mike Montgomery (1-4) failed to build off a solid start against Cleveland his last time out, getting tagged for two runs in the first and never getting in a groove. The recently acquired left-hander allowed four runs on seven hits and a walk while failing to escape the fifth.
His trouble began with the very first batter, Bo Bichette, who ripped a clean single. Four of the first five Toronto batters wound up reaching base, putting the Royals in a 2-0 hole.
Montgomery dodged more trouble in the third before Galvis, scratched from the series opener with back tightness, cracked his bat while dumping a pitch into left field for a two-run single in the fifth.
The Royals would have loved such timely hitting.
They left the bags loaded in the first when Cheslor Cuthbert flied out, then stranded runners each of the next five frames. And when Hunter Dozier led off the seventh with a single, Jorge Soler popped out and Ryan O’Hearn grounded into a double play — so at least they didn’t strand anyone.
BLUE JAYS MOVES
The Blue Jays traded right-hander David Phelps to the Cubs along with cash to offset a portion of the reliever’s salary. They got Double-A pitcher Thomas Hatch in return. … Outfielder Dalton Pompey, who was designated for assignment, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue closer Ken Giles, the subject of rampant trade speculation, got a cortisone shot in his right elbow to treat what the club called mild inflammation. Head trainer Nikki Huffman said an MRI exam showed no structural problems, and Giles is expected to begin throwing in a couple days.
Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi (left shoulder subluxation) continues to take groundballs and took 40 swings each way off the tee. “We go day to day,” manager Ned Yost said. “Making progress.”
UP NEXT
The Royals send right-hander Jakob Junis (6-9, 5.03) to the mound to cap their miserable homestand Wednesday afternoon. Jacob Waguespack (1-1, 5.63) is getting the ball for the Blue Jays.