Blue Jays drop series to Royals after lopsided finale at Rogers Centre

The Toronto Blue Jays could not carry the momentum from their middle-game victory into the series finale, falling to the Kansas City Royals as the visitors used a productive night at the plate to take two of three at Rogers Centre.

Kansas City reached double figures in runs for the 10th time this season, while Toronto’s offence was held to two runs through six innings by Noah Cameron. The defeat dropped the Blue Jays to 65-70 and left them with an 11-11 record in home series this season.

For the Royals, the result completed their fourth consecutive series victory and improved their record to 60-75.

Arrighetti struggles in first Blue Jays start

Spencer Arrighetti made his first start and second appearance since joining Toronto, but Kansas City put him under pressure immediately.

Carter Jensen opened the game by launching a 421-foot home run to right field, his 18th of the season and fifth leadoff homer of the year. That established a Royals rookie franchise record, surpassing the previous mark of four by MJ Melendez.

Arrighetti worked four innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits and two walks while striking out four.

The right-hander did generate eight swings and misses, seven of them with his curveball, but Kansas City continued to create opportunities against Toronto’s pitching after his departure.

Jac Caglianone was at the centre of the damage. He produced the first five-hit game of his career, going 5-for-6 with a career-high six RBI and three runs scored. His night was capped by a ninth-inning home run, his team-leading 23rd of the season.

Vinnie Pasquantino also homered and drove in three runs, while Bobby Witt Jr. collected two hits, scored three times and stole his 36th base of the year.

Springer provides Toronto’s biggest swing

Toronto had chances against Cameron but struggled to turn them into sustained offence.

Myles Straw doubled off the centre-field wall in the second inning, while the Blue Jays also put runners aboard in other situations without breaking through.

Their response finally arrived in the sixth.

Alejandro Kirk singled before George Springer connected with a first-pitch curveball from Cameron and sent it over the centre-field wall for a two-run homer. It was Springer’s 13th home run of the season and cut into Kansas City’s advantage.

Springer finished 2-for-3 with a walk, continuing a productive second half in which he is batting .295 with an .806 OPS across 37 games.

Kazuma Okamoto added his 21st double of the season later in the inning, but Toronto could not turn it into another run.

Cameron completed six innings with two runs allowed on six hits and two walks. The left-hander has now surrendered two earned runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts, posting a 1.29 ERA over that stretch.

Blue Jays finish homestand series with a loss

Toronto entered the finale with an opportunity to secure another series at Rogers Centre, but Kansas City’s offence eventually created too much separation.

The Blue Jays are now 10-12 in rubber games and 19-25 in series finales this season. Their overall record dropped to 65-70, leaving the club five games below .500 as the regular season moves into its final stretch.

After splitting the first two games against Kansas City, Toronto will have to move on from a difficult finale in which Springer provided the biggest offensive highlight, but the pitching staff could not contain a Royals lineup led by Caglianone’s career night.