The Royals didn’t allow a four-run lead to get in the way of a 6-5 win over the Blue Jays at Kauffman Stadium Sunday. A two-out, four-run fourth inning and two more timely RBI’s in the fifth allowed the Royals to take two-of-three from the Blue Jays.
Starter D.J. Carrasco (5-4) appeared to be well on his way to a loss, after giving up a three-run homer to Eric Henkse in the bottom of the fourth inning, which gave Toronto a 4-0 lead. But his teammates backed him up in the bottom half of the inning.
With two outs in the top of the fourth, Emil Brown, Matt Stairs, Angel Berroa and Mark Teahen combined to hit for the cycle in four straight at-bats. Brown got things going with a double to left field. Stairs stepped to the plate and drove him home with a single. Angel Berroa cut the lead to 4-3 with a two-run homer. Teahen then got another rally going with a triple to complete the four-man cycle. Rookie Chip Ambres tied the game at 4-4 with a single to score Teahen.
Toronto starter Ted Lilly admitted to feeling shoulder pain in the fourth, but tried to pitch through it. He didn’t return for the fifth inning and reliever Chris Gaudin took over. It didn’t matter to the Royals, who soon took the lead. Former Cardinal Joe McEwing doubled in Alberto Castillo and Brown drove in McEwing in the fifth to give the Royals a 6-4 advantage.
It stayed 6-4, until closer Mike MacDougal allowed a one-out RBI single to Shea Hillenbrand. He was able to get Aaron Hill to ground into a double play to end the game and give him his 15th save of the season.
The Royals are 23-25 since manager Buddy Bell was hired.
