ROYALS 3, BLUE JAYS 2 Royals stay hot as Vargas wins 11th

TEAM REC: Team’s Record in games started by today’s pitcher. VS OPP: Pitcher’s record versus this opponent 2017 statistics.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jason Vargas missed most of last season after having elbow surgery in 2015. This year he is a candidate to start the All-Star Game.

Vargas earned his majorleague-leading 11th victory Saturday, pitching seven efficient innings to lead the surging Royals over the Blue Jays 3-2.

The Royals won for the 11th time in 13 games and moved over .500 for the first time at 37-36.

“The pitching has been great, and we’ve got some timely hitting,” said Eric Hosmer, who homered in the fourth. “We’re definitely in sync as a team right now.”

Vargas (11-3) allowed two runs on eight hits, walked none and struck out two.

“It was a great day because we came out with a ‘W,’ ” Vargas said. “I felt like in those middle innings we got into a nice rhythm and had some nice plays made for us and got us out of a couple of innings.”

Troy Tulowitzki and Kevin Pillar homered off Vargas.

“I know Jason really well,” Tulowitzki said. “I went to college with him. It’s funny because he used to be a power guy, throw real hard. Now he’s finesse. But he knows how to pitch, bottom line. He gets himself better each and every year. Other than today, I’ve been happy for him, honestly, just because he’s a good friend and someone that really loves the game.”

Pillar’s home run tied the game 2-2.

“The fellows came back and picked me up after I gave up that home run in the seventh,” Vargas said.

Alcides Escobar had three hits and scored twice, including the go-ahead run in the seventh. He singled with one out and scored on Alex Gordon’s triple off Marco Estrada (4-6). TEXAS DeShields lf Choo rf Andrus dh Beltre 3b Odor 2b Gomez cf Napoli 1b Chirinos c Kozma ss TOTALS NEW YORK Williams cf Hicks lf Judge rf Holliday dh Castro 2b Gregorius ss Austin 1b Torreyes 3b Romine c TOTALS 35 31 8 1 8 5 7 1 .291 .256 .292 .286 .209 .262 .196 .242 .118 .250 .288 .328 .262 .315 .313 .000 .286 .239