TORONTO (AP) — Teoscar Hernández and Matt Chapman hit three-run home runs, Alek Manoah snapped a three-start winless streak with seven strong innings and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the depleted Kansas City Royals 8-1 on Friday night.
Kansas City, in last place in the AL Central, was without 10 unvaccinated players and bolstered its roster with Triple-A and Double-A prospects. The Royals, who won the first game of the series 3-1 on Thursday, lost for the second time in seven games.
Foreign nationals who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19 are not allowed to enter Canada, save for limited exceptions that require a 14-day quarantine. Unvaccinated baseball players are placed on the restricted list, which means they are not paid and do not accrue major league service time.
Among the 10 players on Kansas City’s 26-man roster who stayed home were All-Star outfielder Andrew Benintendi, two-time All-Star Whit Merrifield, future cornerstones Kyle Isbel and MJ Melendez and outfielder Michael A. Taylor. Also barred were first baseman Hunter Dozier, right-handed starters Brad Keller and Brady Singer, reliever Dylan Coleman and backup catcher Cam Gallagher.
A second-year right-hander, Manoah (10-4) came in having lost consecutive starts for the first time in his brief career. He turned that around by giving up one run and four hits, walking none and striking out six.
Royals manager Mike Matheny said Manoah’s slider was tricky for the young Royals to handle.
Manoah’s next appearance will be for the American League at next week’s All-Star game in Los Angeles.
Trevor Richards and Anthony Banda each worked an inning of relief.
Chapman and Raimel Tapia each had three hits as the Blue Jays piled up 16 total. Toronto is 5-10 in July.
Greinke (3-6) allowed four runs, three earned, in four innings, losing to the Blue Jays for the first time since June 5, 2009, when new teammate first baseman Nick Pratto was 10 years old. Greinke had gone 3-0 with a 2.38 ERA in five starts against Toronto since.
Pratto had his first big league hit, a single in the fifth, but the Royals didn’t manage much against Manoah, who improved to 11-1 with a 2.20 ERA in 18 career starts north of the border.
Shortstop Maikel Garcia became the fifth Kansas City player to make his debut this series when he replaced Bobby Witt Jr. on defense in the bottom of the sixth.
Pratto doubled in the ninth to finish 2 for 4.