Zobrist goes deep twice to lift Royals past Jays
After a big win over the Blue Jays, it was slow jam time in the Royals clubhouse. Seated around a table in the middle of the room, Kendrys Morales and Danny Duffy gave a spirited singalong to Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”
Maybe they were dedicating it to new teammate Ben Zobrist.
Zobrist hit solo home runs from both sides of the plate, Eric Hosmer singled home the goahead run in the eighth inning and the Royals beat the Blue Jays, 76, on Saturday in Toronto to snap a threegame losing streak.
“We had to have this one to day,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We had to.”
Zobrist, who went 3for4 and scored three runs, homered from the right side in the first and doubled and scored in the sixth.
“It feels incredible,” Zobrist said. “You try and put good swings on the ball from both sides of the plate when you have to switch around during the game but it’s tough.”
Yordano Ventura (67) gave up five runs and six hits in seven innings to win backtoback starts for the first time since April.
“I thought he threw the ball great,” Yost said. “These guys are hotter than heck and their power is amazing.”
Wade Davis worked the eighth and Greg Holland pitched around a walk and a single for his 23rd save. Josh Donaldson grounded out to end it, stranding the tying run at third as Toronto fell to 1123 in onerun games.
Facing new Blue Jays reliever Mark Lowe, Zobrist turned around to the left side and tied it at 5 with a drive to right. Lorenzo Cain doubled and scored on Hosmer’s base hit, Kendrys Morales singled Hosmer to third and Salvador Perez hit a sacrifice fly.
Lowe (02) was charged with three runs after allowing four in 34 appearances this season.
Red Sox 11, Rays 7
In Boston, Travis Shaw hit his first two major league homers and went 4for4 with five runs scored and four RBIs to lead the Red Sox.
Xander Bogaerts had four hits and three RBIs, and Rusney Castillo three hits with three RBIs for the Red Sox, who their third straight after losing 12 of 14.
Logan Forsythe hit a solo homer and tworun single for the Rays, who have lost five of seven.
Joe Kelly (36), demoted to the minors in late June for nearly a month, gave up five runs on nine hits in fiveplus innings for his first victory since June 6.
Jean Machi earned a save in his Red Sox debut, getting the final four outs to lock down the victory.
RAYS: Tampa Bay recalled outfielder Grady Sizemore from TripleA Durham for Saturday’s game against the Red Sox.
To make room, they optioned outfielder Mikie Mahtook to Durham.
The 32yearold Sizemore played in 15 games with the Rays before being demoted, hitting .235 with two homers and seven RBI.
ORIOLES: Baltimore placed righthander rookie Mike Wright on the 15day disabled list because of a left calf strain.
Wright was recalled from TripleA Norfolk on Friday night. He entered in the fourth inning and got three outs before the injury forced him from the game.