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Shields, Royals shut down Blue Jays

Sep 1, 2013 - 11:12 PM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - James Shields tossed seven scoreless innings and Kansas City used an early four-run burst to silence Toronto, 5-0, in the finale of a three-game set.

"We had Shields on the mound, which was the best possible thing that could have happened after yesterday," said Royals manager Ned Yost, who referenced Aaron Crow's inability to throw strikes in a Saturday loss.

Shields (10-8) scattered three hits and walked one while tying a season high with nine strikeouts. Luke Hochevar and Greg Holland backed up Shields' performance with scoreless frames to close out the contest.

Eric Hosmer drove in three, including a two-run single in a four-run third for the Royals, who avoided a sweep and posted their sixth win in their last eight overall. Emilio Bonifacio and Alex Gordon added RBI hits as well in the deciding frame.

J.A. Happ (3-5) lasted only four full frames, charged in defeat for six hits and five runs -- three earned -- for the Jays, whose three-game win streak came to a halt.

"Happ was just in and out of the zone again, it's a consistency thing," said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. "A team like that can run you out of the ballpark if you let them get on base."

Kansas City extended its edge to 5-0 during its third turn at the plate. Jarrod Dyson singled and stole second, then advanced on an Alcides Escobar groundout as it was ruled that Toronto shortstop Jose Reyes interfered with Dyson during a collision in a rundown.

"I messed up. I just wanted to get into a rundown and hopefully stall until Escobar got to second," Dyson said. "It ended up working out perfectly for us, since we got runners on first and third."

Back-to-back RBI singles from Gordon and Bonifacio followed, and after Bonifacio stole second, Hosmer capped the inning with his two-run hit to right.

Shields retired the first 11 batters he faced until a two-out single in the fourth from Edwin Encarnacion and a walk to Adam Lind. Brett Lawrie ended the threat with a grounder.

Rajai Davis tripled with one out in the home fifth, but the Jays wasted the opportunity as Anthony Gose and Kevin Pillar fanned in succession.

Toronto went quietly in the sixth and couldn't advance Lind past first after his leadoff single in the seventh.

Hochevar and Holland combined to turn away the final six Blue Jay batters.

Ex-Blue Jay Bonifacio walked with one down in the first, stole second and moved to third on Toronto catcher J.P. Arencibia's wild throw, before scoring on a Hosmer groundout.

Game Notes

Shields improved to 4-0 with one no-decision in his last five starts since Aug. 11 ... The right-hander also fanned nine on May 6 against Cleveland and May 17 at Oakland ... Shields also upped his record to 7-0 with a 1.71 ERA in his past eight starts away from home, and 8-3 with a 2.11 ERA in 16 total road outings in 2013 ... Prior to the contest, the Royals selected the contracts of catcher Brett Hayes and pitcher Francisley Bueno from Triple-A Omaha.