Royals 9, Blue Jays 6: Eric Hosmer drove in three runs and Kansas City pounded out 16 hits while holding on to salvage a split of the four-game series in Toronto.

The Royals sent 10 batters to the plate during a five-run third inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Alcides Escobar, Hosmer and Billy Butler delivered consecutive RBI singles against Henderson Alvarez (5-7). A fourth run scored on an error by Toronto third baseman Brett Lawrie, and Mike Moustakas added a run-scoring sacrifice fly.

J.P. Arencibia drove in Toronto’s first three runs, hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning and adding a solo shot in the seventh.

Each team scored three runs in the eighth inning. The Royals got an RBI base hit from Alex Gordon and a two-run single from Hosmer in the top of the frame, and the Blue Jays answered with an RBI single from Yunel Escobar and a two-run triple by pinch hitter Ben Francisco to get back within two.

Yuniesky Betancourt, the last Kansas City starter without a hit, provided an insurance run with a ninth-inning solo homer.

Luke Hochevar (6-8) got the victory, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings of work. He struck out three and walked one before exiting with a right medial ankle sprain. Jonathan Broxton, the sixth Kansas City reliever, worked the ninth inning for his 21st save.

Alvarez lasted 5 1/3 innings in defeat, allowing eight hits and a pair of walks.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Hochevar was pulled for precautionary reasons. It is unclear whether he will miss any starts ... Royals C Salvador Perez, who went 4-for-5 to raise his average to .425, has hit safely in all 11 games he has played this season since coming off the disabled list last month ... Arencibia had his sixth career multi-homer game, tying Ernie Whitt for most by a Toronto catcher ... Jose Bautista went 0-for-5 for the Blue Jays, lining into a game-ending double play in the ninth.