Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered, right-hander Alek Manoah pitched seven scoreless innings and the visiting Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Kansas City Royals 3-0 Wednesday night.
Manoah (1-0) allowed no runs, one hit, four walks and hit a batter. He struck out five.
Royals right-hander Zack Greinke (0-2) allowed one run, seven hits and one walk while striking out four in six innings.
The Blue Jays, who held the Royals to two hits, have won two in a row after dropping the opener of the four-game series.
There were many hard-hit outs against both starters.
Greinke pitched around two singles in the first inning.
Manoah survived a hit batter and a walk in the third inning, which ended with a double play on a lineout to right.
The Royals had their first hit of the game with one out in the fifth when Jackie Bradley Jr. singled to right, putting runners at the corners. Manoah worked out of the jam with a popout and a strikeout.
The Blue Jays had runners at the corners in the sixth after one-out singles by Guerrero and Daulton Varsho. A run scored when the Royals could not turn a double play on a grounder to second. After the force at second, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.’s throw to first was in the dirt and Matt Chapman was safe at first base.
Taylor Clarke replaced Greinke and pitched around a two-out walk in the seventh inning.
Manoah retired the final eight batters of his outing.
Guerrero hit his first home run of the season on a drive to right to lead off the eighth against Clarke. Varsho followed with a double to right and Chapman hit an RBI single.
Erik Swanson took over for Manoah and had a perfect bottom of the eighth with a strikeout.
Dylan Coleman pitched a perfect top of the ninth with a strikeout.
Jordan Romano pitched around a single to earn his third save of the season.
Royals manager Matt Quatraro tested positive for COVID-19. Bench coach Paul Hoover will serve as interim manager while Quatraro is away from the team.
The Royals placed outfielder Kyle Isbel on paternity leave and recalled infielder Nick Pratto.
–Field Level Media
