URGENT UPDATE: The Kansas City Royals delivered a stunning blow to the Toronto Blue Jays, winning a remarkable 20-1 in a game that saw veteran pitcher Max Scherzer exit after just two outs in the first inning.
In an explosive start on September 29, 2023, Kansas City erupted for seven runs against Scherzer, marking the shortest non-injury outing of his illustrious career. This loss ties the Blue Jays for the largest defeat by a division leader in September or later, matching the infamous 20-1 loss of the San Diego Padres to the Rockies in 2005.
The action unfolded quickly; after George Springer put the Blue Jays on the board with an early home run, the Royals responded in the bottom of the first. Carter Jensen‘s leadoff double and Bobby Witt Jr.‘s RBI single leveled the score. Kansas City seized control when Vinnie Pasquantino doubled in Witt, igniting the scoring spree.
Following a walk to Maikel Garcia that led to the ejection of Toronto pitching coach Pete Walker, Salvador Perez smashed his 30th home run, expanding the lead to 7-1. Perez’s three-run bomb highlighted an inning that had the Royals sending a total of 10 batters to the plate.
Jensen, batting leadoff for the first time, made history by hitting three doubles, including a two-run double in the third inning. This performance made him the first player in Royals history to have multiple doubles in the same inning.
As the game progressed, the Royals continued to dominate, racking up 27 hits, a franchise record. Michael Massey added a two-run homer, and Jac Caglianone capped off the scoring with a three-run shot in the seventh inning.
Michael Lorenzen, the Royals’ starter, earned his first win since July 6, pitching 7 2/3 innings and allowing just one run on three hits, striking out four.
This blowout victory not only solidifies the Royals’ offensive prowess but also raises questions about the Blue Jays’ struggles as the postseason approaches. Fans and analysts alike will be eager to see how Toronto responds to this devastating loss.
Stay tuned for updates as the fallout from this historic game continues to unfold.