TORONTO — Mike Moustakas hit his first career grand slam, and the Kansas City Royals crushed the Toronto Blue Jays 11-3 on Monday night to take game one of four at Rogers Centre in Toronto.
Royals starter Everett Teaford got plenty of run support early to turn in the longest start of his young career. Teaford (1-1, 4.70 ERA) gave up three runs on five hits in 7 innings, striking out two and walking two.
Starter Ricky Romero (8-3, 5.35 ERA) earned the loss.
In just his 8th game since coming off the disabled list, catcher Salvador Perez helped jump-start the offense with his third home run of the season. Perez’s two-run jack put the Royals up 2-1 in the second inning. It was a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
In the third, Jose Bautista hit his 27th HR of the year, a solo blast that pulled the Blue Jays within two. Center fielder Colby Rasmus crushed his 16th jack in the fifth inning with a solo bomb to right field, but the Jays’ rally chances soon came to an end.
After going hitless in his 13 previous at-bats in Minnesota, Moustakas smashed his first career grand slam in the seventh, his 14th HR of the year, to put the Royals up 11-3.
It was the first grand slam for Kansas City this season, and the most runs the club has scored in Toronto since 1994.
The Royals (36-42, 22-19 away) also set a new team-high for runs scored in a single game this year.
The Blue Jays (40-40, 21-18 home) went 0-3 with runners in scoring position. The Royals went 5-9.
With the win, Kansas City snapped a three-game losing skid.
Right-handed pitcher Vin Mazzaro (3-2, 4.74 ERA) takes the hill against Blue Jays lefty Brett Cecil (1-1, 6.06 ERA) on Tuesday night for game two at Rogers Centre.
