The Royals won 11-10 after blowing a seven-run lead, helped by a base-running gaffe by Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin.
Martin had a RBI double to pull Toronto within 10-9 in the seventh and went to third on Kelvin Herrera’s wild pitch with one out. When catcher Salvador Perez delayed picking up the ball and Herrera was slow to cover home, Martin rounded third base.
Perez grabbed the ball and threw out Martin before he could retreat to the bag.
“If you look at it, it really wasn’t that far, but that kid’s got a cannon arm,” Martin said.
The play was reviewed but not overturned after a delay of more than two minutes.
“That saved us,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Salvy made a phenomenal play.”
Toronto’s Jose Reyes, who had his second straight three-hit game, singled home Kevin Pillar, who had tripled, in the eighth to tie it 10-10. It was only the second run Royals reliever Wade Davis (5-1) had allowed this season.
“We hit the ball pretty well,” Martin said. “They just hit the ball a little more at the end there. They got the big hit. It was a frustrating loss. We definitely could have played better and we made some mistakes, but we got back in the game.”
Paulo Orlando broke the tie with a homer in the bottom of the eighth, and Kendrys Morales hit a three-run homer in a six-run Royals first.
Greg Holland worked the ninth, earning his 19th save in 20 opportunities.
Kansas City led 7-0 after five, but the Blue Jays sent 12 men to the plate in an eight-run sixth. Danny Valencia and Jose Bautista had two-run doubles.
“It was an odd game, but those are going to happen every now and then when you play a lot of games,” Bautista said. “It was quirky. A lot of errors, the sun, the heat.”
The Royals regained the lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Felix Doubront made it through five innings after the rocky start. He gave up 10 hits and seven runs, two unearned.
BREAK FOR BAUTISTA
Bautista opted out of the All-Star game to rest and rehab his sore right shoulder. Doctors believe he won’t have any lingering effects.
“After being in Chicago and getting sore again, and listening to doctors’ recommendations, there’s some therapy and some rehab that needs to be done,” he said. “Normally you would need a few days off during the regular season. I’m taking advantage of this due to the break. It’s the smart thing for me to do for my health and to the end of the season.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Blue Jays: 3B Josh Donaldson was not in the lineup because of flu-like symptoms, which forced him to leave the game in the sixth inning Saturday. … RHP Aaron Sanchez (right lat strain) threw 2 2/3 innings in a rehab appearance Saturday for Single-A Dunedin, giving up one run on three hits and two walks, while striking out five.
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (left flexor strain) will make his first rehab start Monday for Double-A Northwest Arkansas.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays: Toronto will host the Rays for a three-game series after the break. The Jays have dropped seven of 10 to Tampa Bay this season.
Royals: RHPs Chris Young and Edinson Volquez will start a split-doubleheader Friday at the White Sox.