Around the Horn

Around the Horn

Monday’s other MLB games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Blue Jays 11, Royals 4

TORONTO

Backed by an offensive barrage, Blue Jays left-hander Clayton Richard had a relatively easy time ending the longest losing streak of his career. Freddy Galvis hit a pair of solo home runs, rookie Cavan Biggio had four RBIs and Toronto beat the Kansas City Royals. Randal Grichuk had four hits and four RBIs and Teoscar Hernandez added a solo home run as the Blue Jays won for the 15th time in 19 regular-season home meetings with the Royals. Richard (1-4) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings to win for the first time since Aug. 18, 2018, when he beat Arizona while pitching for San Diego. He’d lost nine straight decisions since. “It’s huge,” Richard said of earning his first win with Toronto. “That’s why we play the game, is to win. It feels a lot better doing that than the alternative.” Richard has pitched six innings in back-to-back starts for the first time this season. “That’s all we can ask: five, six good innings, and he gave us again that today,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. Wearing red caps and jerseys in honor of Canada Day, the Blue Jays scored in each of the first four innings and finished with a season-high 18 hits. “I’m impressed with Toronto’s team, their young crop of hitters,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “They’re going to be really a good group that’s going to be able to put some runs on the board.” Biggio, who went 3 for 5, hit his first career grand slam in Saturday’s 7-5 victory, the first time he had driven in four runs in a game. Members of the Canadian Forces rappelled into the outfield from the open stadium roof before the game, before hundreds of servicemen and women unfurled a giant Canadian flag for the singing of “O Canada.” “I can see how much it means to so many people, and I feel honored and privileged to be a part of it,” Richard said about pitching on Canada Day. Royals right-hander Glenn Sparkman (2-4) allowed career highs of nine hits and eight runs in three innings. “I just really didn’t have good command of anything and they jumped it,” Sparkman said.

Ray 6, Orioles 3

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.

Kevin Kiermaier’s three run home run lifted Tampa Bay to a win over Baltimore in a game in which two-way player Brandon McKay went 0 for 4 in his major league debut as a hitter for the Rays. Kiermaier’s 10th homer came off Branden Kline (1-4) in the sixth inning after a walk and a single by Avisail Garcia. McKay, who gave up one hit in six scoreless innings Saturday night in his major league pitching debut against the Texas Rangers, grounded out four times and was picked off second base on a throw from catcher Pedro Severino. Adam Kolarek (3-2) got the win and Jose Alvarado pitched the ninth for his first save since May 26. Tom Eshelman made his major league pitching debut for the Orioles, giving up two runs on six hits in five innings without recording a strikeout. Renato Nunez had two hits for Baltimore. The crowd of 20,441 included about 10,000 fans who purchased $2 tickets.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Brewers 8, Reds 6

CINCINNATI

Christian Yelich singled with the bases loaded and hit his major league-leading 30th homer Monday night, helping the Milwaukee Brewers rally for their sixth straight victory at Great American Ball Park. Milwaukee sent 10 batters to the plate for five runs in the seventh inning, with Yelich contributing an RBI single. The reigning National League MVP hit a two-run homer in the ninth that made him the first Brewer with 30 before the All-Star break. The Brewers have won 11 of 15 overall against their NL Central rival. This time, they overcame a pair of two-run homers by Eugenio Suarez, who has three in the last two games. Trailing 3-1, Lorenzo Cain led off the seventh inning with a homer that was only the second hit off Tyler Mahle. David Hernandez (2-4) walked Yasmani Grandal with the bases loaded to force in a run that put Milwaukee up 4-3, and Yelich followed with a single. Mahle gave up three hits overall, including Keston Hiura’s homer in the fifth. The Brewers got a career-high five-plus innings from Adrian Houser, who was making his fourth start after 14 relief appearances. He blanked the Reds on four hits over the first five innings, but Jesse Winker hit a solo shot and Suarez added a two-run homer as the Reds chased Houser to open the sixth. Alex Claudio (2-2) retired the three batters he faced in the inning. Suarez connected again in the eighth off Josh Hader.

Associated Press