The Royals pounced on the Blue Jays Thursday evening, beginning the game with a home from Carter Jensen and finishing it with a 13-2 victory. One day after the nine-game winning streak ended, the Royals looked no worse for wear.
Noah Cameron started the game and looked like his second-half self. He pitched six innings, walked two, gave up six hits and two earned runs while striking out three. He picks up another win to improve his record to 9-8 as his ERA drops below 4 to sit at 3.98.
The Royals didn’t
need too much from Cameron tonight, though, as the offense came back to life a day after getting blanked. Overall, the Royals collected 16 hits, seven of them for extra-bases, and plated 13 runs. Every Royals hitter, except for John Rave, poor fella, collected at least one hit. Bobby Witt Jr., Jac Caglianone, and Vinnie Pasquantino all had multiple hits, Cags leading the way with five. Jensen finished 1-for-2 with three walks and two runs scored. His leadoff homer was his fifth of the season, the most in Major League history by a catcher.
Let’s talk some more about Cags—he finished 5-for-6 with three runs, a home run, a double and six RBIs. He becomes the third player in franchise history to collect at least five hits and drive in six runs in the same game joining Eric Hosmer (2017) and Kevin Seitzer (1987, a darn fine year for mankind).
Bobby Witt Jr. continues scoring runs at a hot pace. Since he’s returned from the Injured List, he’s scored more runs than he’s played games. He also added an RBI on his 27th double of the season.
Also performing well since returning the Injured List: Vinnie Pasquantino, who homered again tonight, his 9th of the season. His power, which lacked for the entire season, has reemerged, giving the Royals a very potent 2-3-4 part of the lineup.
The Royals were never threatened in this laugher. Cameron held the Jays in check and didn’t allow any runs until he had a 1o-run cushion. The Blue Jays made it 10-2 with a George Springer homer in the sixth, his 13th of the season, but that was the closest they’d get all evening.
With the win, the Royals capture their fourth straight series, defeating the Angels, Athletics, Tigers, and now Blue Jays in those series. The win is their 10th in eleven games and brings the season record to 60-75.
Next up: the Guardians in Cleveland for three games before a nine-game homestand that includes a series versus these very Blue Jays over Labor Day weekend. Or, Labour Day weekend, as it’s spelled for our friends to the north.
The Guardians are 68-66 and hold the final Wild Card spot with a two-game lead over the Rangers. They have won seven straight.
Time for the Royals to end that streak.
