Royals extend winning streak to 9 games with 5-1 victory vs. Blue Jays

Jaylon Thompson, The Kansas City Star on Aug 25, 2026

Published in Baseball

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The Kansas City Royals packed their eight-game winning streak alongside their passports and headed to Toronto, Ontario this week.

After a perfect homestand, the Royals remained hot on Tuesday night, earning a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

They did it with clutch hitting.

In the fifth inning, Salvador Perez worked an eight-pitch at-bat to record a two-out RBI single off future Hall of Fame pitcher Max Scherzer. Rookie catcher Carter Jensen added a sacrifice fly in the sixth.

The Royals (59-74) got contributions throughout the lineup. Kyle Isbel had a sacrifice bunt to precede Jensen’s at-bat. He got aboard after Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. threw wildly to Ernie Clement at second.

The defensive mistake ultimately led to two runs scoring. The Royals took control in the sixth and wouldn’t relinquish the lead.

KC has won nine consecutive games — best in the majors. And this is the Royals’ longest winning streak since July 19-28, 2017.

The offense carried the load on Tuesday. The Royals logged seven hits and walked nine times against the Toronto pitching staff. Every starter reached base; the Blue Jays used five pitchers.

The Royals have a positive run differential (+27) during their win streak. They came in averaging 6.3 runs per game during that span.

Starting pitcher Seth Lugo got the win. He allowed one run across five innings while recording five strikeouts. After a shaky first inning, he settled in to face 21 batters before giving way to the Royals’ bullpen.

Lugo allowed six hits but limited his walks. The Blue Jays worked just one — Kazuma Okamoto in the first inning — against the longtime veteran. Per Baseball Savant, Lugo induced 43 swings and 12 whiffs.

The Blue Jays (64-69) scored their lone run in the first inning. Toronto nevertheless had a chance to tie it late with a bases-loaded opportunity against Royals reliever Nate Pearson.

Pearson gave up a double and a walk and then hit a batter. But he was able to work around that traffic on the basepaths and record a scoreless frame. Toronto finished 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position (RISP).

Reliever Steven Cruz pitched the ninth. He surrendered two runs, but the Royals’ defense bailed him out by cutting down Blue Jays baserunner Nathan Lukes at second to end the game.

Lukes was attempting to stretch a single into a double after driving in the two runs. But Royals left-fielder Issac Collins began a relay to Bobby Witt Jr., who threw to Tyler Tolbert to apply the tag.

The defensive play kept Guerrero on the on-deck circle — representing the tying run that never made it to the plate.

What’s next?

Royals right-hander Randy Dobnak (2-1, 1.58 ERA) will start Wednesday’s game against the Blue Jays. Toronto hadn’t announced a starter as of Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 6:07 p.m. Central Time at Rogers Centre.