By MATT PIKE
Seven Toronto pitchers combined to throw a six hit shuout as the Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 3-0 at Rogers Centre, ending Kansas City’s nine-game winning streak.
The Royals were seeking their longest win streak since a 10-game stretch in 2014, but Blue Jays reliever Chad Dallas, who improved to 2-1 on the season, struck out four in 2.2 hitless innings and Louis Varland got the final four outs for his 30th save in 31 chances. Toronto used its ninth shutout to bounce back after losing consecutive games for the first time in a month.
Nathan Lukes gave the Blue Jays the lead in the fourth inning with a three run home run off Royals starter Randy Dobnak, scoring Jesús Sánchez and Kazuma Okamoto for the only runs Toronto would need in the game. Dobnak who fell to 2-2, allowed three runs and six hits in six innings while striking out five and walking one. The Royals had two hits through seven innings before Carter Jensen and Bobby Witt Jr. chased Tyler Rogers with back-to-back singles in the eighth inning, but Varland came on and retired Jac Caglianone on the first pitch. In the ninth inning, Nick Loftin doubled with two outs and John Rave followed with an infield single, but again Varland ended the threat by striking out Isaac Collins.
At the plate, Jensen was 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Loftin was 1-for-4 with a double. Tyler Tolbert was 1-for-2 with a stolen base.
Kansas City and Toronto wrap up their series on Thursday. Noah Cameron (8-8, 4.02 ERA, 128Ks) looks to continue his hot stretch for the Royals against Spencer Arrighetti (7-6, 4.73 ERA, 91Ks) for the Blue Jays. First pitch is at 6:07pm, pregame will air at 5:30pm on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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