Royals at Blue Jays
The Kansas City Royals gave themselves a chance at earning a split of the four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays with a come-from-behind triumph on Sunday, bouncing back after a disappointing setback in Saturday's contest. The Royals will try to finish off the road trip strong when they visit the Blue Jays in Monday's finale.
Kansas City dropped a 5-3 decision in Friday's opener and could not keep the ball in the yard on Saturday, when Toronto picked up a 7-5 victory on a walk-off homer to drop the Royals to 12-30 away from home. The bullpen stepped up for Kansas City in Sunday's contest, firing off four hitless innings, and a solo blast from Jorge Soler - his 22nd - proved to be the difference for a team trying to find some momentum with a week left until the All-Star break. The Blue Jays are trying to find their own momentum and hope to take advantage of a 10-game homestand going into the All-Star break with the slumping Boston Red Sox and the major league-worst Baltimore Orioles coming to town after the Royals depart. Toronto left-hander Clayton Richard will try to earn his first win on Monday while Kansas City turns to righty Glenn Sparkman looking for the split.
TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Kansas City, Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Glenn Sparkman (2-3, 4.07 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Clayton Richard (0-4, 6.89)
Sparkman was roughed up at Cleveland on Tuesday, allowing five runs on seven hits - three homers - and two walks over 5 2/3 innings but was held out of the decision. The 27-year-old Texan surrendered seven home runs in 24 1/3 innings over his last four outings, going 1-2 with a 4.44 ERA in that span. Sparkman made one start against Toronto during his 2018 rookie campaign and allowed two runs on four hits across four innings without factoring in the decision.
Richard is still looking for his first win of 2019 but posted his first quality start at New York on Tuesday, yielding three runs and eight hits in a season-high six innings. The 35-year-old has surrendered a total of 37 hits - eight home runs - over 31 1/3 total innings while issuing 16 walks. Richard spent most of his career in the National League but is 2-2 with a 4.45 ERA in eight career games - four starts - against Kansas City.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blue Jays 1B Justin Smoak homered twice on Sunday - his first two blasts since coming off the Injured List on Friday.
2. Kansas City RHP Ian Kennedy converted his ninth consecutive save opportunity on Sunday, capping off a month of June in which he allowed one run in 9 1/3 innings and went 8-for-8 in save chances.
3. Toronto INF Eric Sogard is 6-for-12 with three runs scored in the series.