Luke Hochevar, Royals right-handed started, won for the third time in four starts after leaving the game with a sprained ankle, but a five-run third inning and three RBIs from Eric Hosmer helped the Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-6 on Thursday night.
Hochevar (6-8) gave up two runs and four hits in five innings before leaving with his injury. He sprained his right ankle while covering first base on Colby Rasmus’ infield single in the fifth.
“I hit the bag on the inside and just rolled it in,” Hochevar said. “It wouldn’t have been bad if it wasn’t on the inside. When I was pushing off the rubber it extended it and it was biting me pretty good. It’s a good thing we have the All-Star break coming up and I’ve got eight days (of rest).”
Toronto’s Henderson Alvarez gave up five runs and eight hits in 5.1 innings as the Blue Jays lost for the ninth time in the last 14 games against the Royals. The Royals five run, 10-batter third came against Alvarez.
Alcides Escobar, Hosmer and Billy Butler hit RBI singles. A fourth run scored on Brett Lawrie’s throwing error and Mike Moustakas capped the rally with a sacrifice fly. Butler’s infield single to third base was his first hit against the Blue Jays this season, snapping an 0 for 24 slump against Toronto.