Toronto Blue Jays vs Kansas City Royals Box Score on Jun 23, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 24, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Whit Merrifield delivered his first career walk-off hit with a two-run double as the Kansas City Royals rallied from a four-run deficit to top the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Friday night.

All four runs in the ninth inning were scored with two outs.

Alcides Escobar singled home Salvador Perez with the first run of the inning and Alex Gordon singled home Brandon Moss, who had walked, with the second run.

Merrifield greeted Jason Grilli with a double to left to score Escobar and Gordon.

The victory moved the Royals (36-36) to .500 for the first time this season.

Joakim Soria (4-2) got the victory and Aaron Loup (2-1) took the loss.

Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ limited the Royals to four hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings while striking out five and walking none.

Troy Tulowitzki doubled home Kendrys Morales with the first Toronto run in the fourth inning and scored on a Jake Junis wild pitch.

Toronto added two runs in the ninth with run-producing singles by Josh Donaldson and Justin Smoak.

The Royals chased Happ in the seventh, which Lorenzo Cain led off with a double. Eric Hosmer reached on Ryan Goins' fielding error. Perez laced a single to left, scoring Cain with still nobody out.

Happ rebounded to retire Mike Moustakas on an infield popup and struck out Moss. Danny Barnes was brought in to face Escobar, who flied out to center.

Royals rookie Junis was pulled after 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, six hits and two walks while striking out four.

The Blue Jays scored two runs on one hit, a hit batter and a wild pitch in the fourth inning.

Junis hit Morales with a pitch to start the inning. Tulowitzki doubled to the right-center gap, scoring Morales. Dwight Smith Jr. flied out to deep center to get Tulowitzki to third. After walking Kevin Pillar, Junis uncorked a wild pitch with Goins batting, allowing Tulowitzki to score.

Happ retired the first 10 batters he faced before Jorge Bonifacio doubled to left with one out in the fourth, but he was stranded at third base.

The only other Kansas City baserunner the first five innings was Moss' opposite-field single with two out in the fifth.

Jose Bautista and Russell Martin singled with two outs in the third, but Junis struck out Donaldson to end the inning.

NOTES: The Royals designated for assignment RHP Chris Young, who had a 7.50 ERA and was allowing opponents to hit .353. They added RHP Neftali Feliz, who was released by the Brewers after going 1-5 with eight saves and a 6.00 ERA. ... The Blue Jays brought up OF Ian Parmley from Triple-A Buffalo and he started in right field. RHP Cesar Valdez was sent to the Bisons. ... OF Steve Pearce was not in the Toronto lineup for the second straight day with a bruised right knee. ... Royals LHP Danny Duffy will begin a rehab assignment Saturday with Triple-A Omaha. Duffy is on the disabled list with a strained oblique. ... Blue Jays RHP Marco Estrada and Royals LHP Jason Vargas are the Saturday probables.