Right-hander Jose Berrios struck out seven in six scoreless innings in his debut with the Toronto Blue Jays, who completed a three-game sweep of the visiting Kansas City Royals with 5-1 victory on Sunday afternoon.
Marcus Semien hit a two-run home run and Santiago Espinal hit a solo shot for the Blue Jays, who have won four in a row.
Berrios (8-5) allowed five hits and one walk and hit three batters in his first start after he was obtained in a trade with the Minnesota Twins on Friday.
The Blue Jays were playing a series at the Rogers Centre for the first time since Sept. 29, 2019, because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Royals right-hander Brad Keller (7-10) left after three innings with a tight lower back. He allowed three runs and seven hits.
Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield singled in the first inning to extend his hit streak to 12 games. Edward Olivares hit a solo homer for Kansas City.
The Blue Jays scored three runs in the third inning. Reese McGuire singled and scored when George Springer doubled to center. Springer was thrown out trying to reach third. Teoscar Hernandez then singled and Semien hit his 25th homer of the season.
Josh Staumont replaced Keller in the fourth and allowed Espinal's second homer of the season.
Jake Brentz walked three straight after two outs in the fifth and was replaced by Richard Lovelady, who walked Espinal to force in a run.
The Royals loaded the bases in the sixth on Andrew Benintendi's double and two hit batters. Berrios struck out Olivares to end the inning.
Trevor Richards replaced Berrios in the seventh and pitched a perfect 1 1/3 innings.
Tim Mayza replaced Richards with one out in the eighth and pitched 1 2/3 innings, allowing the second home run of the season by Olivares with two out in the ninth.
Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was given a day off Sunday for the first time this season.
--Field Level Media
Kansas City | Toronto | |
Brad Keller | Player | Jose Berrios |
Loss | W/L | Win |
3.0 | IP | 6.0 |
3 | Strikeouts | 7 |
7 | Hits | 5 |
9.00 | ERA | 0.00 |
Kansas City | Toronto | |
Edward Olivares | Player | Santiago Espinal |
2 | Hits | 1 |
1 | RBI | 2 |
1 | HR | 1 |
5 | TB | 4 |
.500 | Avg | .333 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Kansas City | 6 | 1 | 10 | .188 | 15 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Toronto | 8 | 2 | 15 | .258 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 |