Trailing 9-4 with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning on Wednesday night, the Royals got two runners on before Billy Butler connected on a 3-1 pitch from former Kansas City closer Octavio Dotel, for a three-run home run to draw Kansas City within 9-7.
After Greg Holland struck out the side facing the Blue Jays in the top of the ninth, Brayan Pena singled up the middle in the top of the ninth with one out, bringing the tying run to the plate. Alcides Escobar struck out, bringing Alex Gordon up as the last chance. Gordon hit one to the gap in left center, driving in Pena. Gordon was standing on second with Melky Cabrera up for his chance to face Toronto pitcher Casey Janssen. Cabrera promptly blooped out to shortstop Mike McCoy who was on the run towards the outfield to end the game.
Danny Duffy and the Royals dug another hole, after the Royals had taken 4-2 lead in the third inning, powered by a three-run home run to right for Cabrera, as part of four runs in the inning. For Cabrera it was his eighth home run and now he sits at 38 RBI on the season.
Duffy promptly gave up a go-ahead two run home run to Jayson Nix in the top of the fourth, as the Royals trailed 5-4. Duffy finished with four innings pitched, allowing five runs on eight hits. He walked four, verses only one strikeout, as he fell to 0-2.
Adam Lind hit a grand slam in the sixth off Nathan Adcock to extend the Blue Jays lead at 9-4, before the Royals rallied.
Toronto improves 32-30, as starting pitcher Carlos Villanueva improved to 4-0, while Janssen picked up his first save. Kansas City is now 26-36, their first time being 10 games under .500 on the season. Over the last 25 games, the Royals are just 6-19. Wednesday's box score can be viewed here.
Kansas City and Toronto finish their series tomorrow at 3:10 with Luke Hochevar (3-6 5.25 ERA) facing Ricky Romero (5-5 3.16) as the Royals finish their 11-game home stand.