KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brady Singer pitched five effective innings, MJ Melendez hit a two-run homer and the Kansas City Royals broke loose early to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-5 on Monday night for their first victory of the season.
Nicky Lopez had a two-run triple and Bobby Witt Jr. delivered a pair of RBI singles as the Royals opened a 7-0 lead in the fourth against José Berríos and gave Matt Quatraro his first win as manager.
Kansas City Royals’ MJ Melendez hits a double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brady Singer throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Kansas City Royals’ Michael Massey slides safely into third base on a single by Royals’ Kyle Isbel during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Kansas City Royals’ MJ Melendez celebrates after a double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Kansas City Royals shortstop Nicky Lopez slides safely into third base for a two-RBI triple against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Kansas City Royals’ MJ Melendez (1) celebrates after his home run in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays with teammate Bobby Witt Jr. (7) during a baseball game, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Kansas City Royals’ MJ Melendez (1) celebrates after his home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Kansas City Royals’ Vinnie Pasquantino scores in the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during a baseball game, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr., left, dumps ice water on MJ Melendez, right, after they beat the Toronto Blue Jays in a baseball game, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Toronto Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette hits a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)Toronto Blue Jays’ Cavan Biggio (8) is congratulated by Blue Jays manager John Schneider, right, after scoring during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Monday, April 3, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Singer (1-0) allowed just two hits — doubles by Matt Chapman — with three walks and three strikeouts. He is 7-0 with a 1.68 ERA in his last 10 starts at Kauffman Stadium dating to June 26 last year.
Toronto mounted a fifth-inning charge, loading the bases with a double and a pair of walks, but Singer limited the damage with a double-play grounder that scored one run.
Kansas City was shut out twice at home by Minnesota last weekend while losing its first three games of the year. After entering with a major league-worst .133 batting average, the Royals greeted Berríos (0-1) with four first-inning hits, producing three runs and their first lead of the season.
Berríos went 5 2/3 innings in his season debut, allowing eight runs on nine hits and striking out seven.
Lopez’s two-run triple highlighted a four-run fourth as Kansas City expanded its lead to 7-0. Melendez capped the scoring in the sixth with a two-run homer, his first of the year.
Witt also had Kansas City’s first stolen base of the year, while five Royals collected their first hits and RBIs.
Four consecutive singles off Royals relievers led to a pair of seventh-inning runs, but the Blue Jays left the bases loaded. Toronto stranded seven in scoring position, going 2 for 11 in those situations.
Bo Bichette drilled Toronto’s first home run of the year leading off the ninth. The Blue Jays had gone without a long ball in their first three games — their longest drought to begin a season.
UP NEXT
Toronto’s Yusei Kikuchi and Kansas City’s Kris Bubic will make their season debuts Tuesday evening.
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