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Zaun, Blue Jays complete sweep of Royals

May 26, 2008 - 9:50 PM TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Toronto Blue Jays finished off a dominating weekend series Monday.

Gregg Zaun blasted a two-run home run and Shaun Marcum pitched 7 1/3 solid innings as the Blue Jays completed a four-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals with a 7-2 triumph.

Marco Scutaro also homered for the Blue Jays, who outscored the Royals, 23-4, during the weekend series. It was Kansas City's eighth straight loss.

The victory was the fifth straight for the Blue Jays (28-25), who have won 11 of their last 14 and moved three games above .500 for the first time this season.

"We're on a decent roll right now," Zaun said. "Got the pitching rolling and started to score some runs. It's just nice to see the offense come alive and our pitching has been doing what they've been doing all year."

Marcum (5-3) was the fourth straight Toronto starter to go at least seven innings. On Monday, he allowed two runs - one earned - and five hits over his outing. He walked one and hit three batters, striking out six.

"I tried to be consistent and not put too much pressure on myself," Marcum said. "I'm following three guys that threw the ball well the last three days. You don't wanna go out and try and throw a complete game. Just go out and give our team a chance to win."

Toronto took control of the game in the second with four runs off Kansas City starter Brett Tomko (2-6).

Lyle Overbay drove in Scott Rolen with a single to right and came around to score two batters later on a sacrifice fly by Brad Wilkerson. With a runner on second, Zaun lined a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right field, giving the Blue Jays a 4-0 bulge.

"I tried to go down and away (to Zaun) and I just left it (in the middle)," Tomko said. "That's what I'm talking about, it is being more consistent. That's the only thing I can really put my finger on."

The Blue Jays added to their lead in the fifth when Zaun doubled and moved to third after Joe Inglett reached on an error by first baseman Billy Butler. Alex Rios plated both runners with a double down the right field line, extending Toronto's lead to 6-0.

Kansas City finally got on the board in the sixth without the benefit of a hit.

Alex Gordon and Jose Guillen were both hit by a pitch, and Gordon scored after Mark Teahen reached on second baseman Inglett's error. After a wild pitch moved runners to second and third, Miguel Olivo lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, cutting the deficit to 6-2.

But that would be as close as the Royals could get, as Scutaro blasted a solo shot to left in the bottom of the sixth, capping Toronto's scoring.

"We just got to come together as a team right now," Royals center fielder David DeJesus said. "It's easy for everyone to start going their own way and not care about anything. We can't worry about the (losing streak), we just got to worry about tomorrow."