GAME THREAD: AL: TORONTO (58-57) at KANSAS CITY (51-64)

AL: TORONTO (58-57) at KANSAS CITY (51-64)

<h3>Gordon, Royals look to take rubber game against Blue Jays</h3>

<div class="pre">Toronto (58-57) at Kansas City (51-64) 7:10 pm EDT</div>

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - Alex Gordon hopes to build offSaturday's excellent performance when the Kansas City Royalshost the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday in the finale of athree-game series.


Gordon went 3-for-3 with a triple, a homer and two RBI in theRoyals' 4-1 triumph over the Blue Jays on Sunday. The23-year-old Nebraska alum is batting just .247 with nine blastsand 39 RBI on the season.


On Friday, Shaun Marcum carried a no-hitter into the seventhinning, leading the Blue Jays to a 2-1 victory.


The Royals will send Brian Bannister (8-6, 3.32 ERA) to themound. The 26-year-old righthander has been impressive in hislast four starts, posting a 3-0 record and surrendering justfive runs over 28 innings during that span.


Bannister will be opposed by A.J. Burnett (5-6, 4.31), who waswinless in his previous five starts before going on the disabledlist with a sore shoulder. The nine-year veteran pitched fourinnings, yielding five runs and six hits with six strikeouts inan 8-5 loss to the Minnesota Twins in his last outing on June28.


The Blue Jays have lost three of their last five contests.

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TORONTO AT KANSAS CITY -- LINEUPS

TORONTO KANSAS CITY
AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI
Matt Stairs LF .289 14 42 David Dejesus CF .278 6 49
Lyle Overbay 1B .249 8 33 Mark Grudzielanek 2B .299 5 38
Alex Rios RF .302 20 65 Mark Teahen RF .289 5 49
Vernon Wells CF .263 14 66 Billy Butler DH .296 4 31
Frank Thomas DH .263 18 68 Ross Gload 1B .291 4 37
Troy Glaus 3B .250 15 49 Alex Gordon 3B .243 9 39
Aaron Hill 2B .271 12 61 Jason Smith SS .213 2 6
Gregg Zaun C .252 6 31 Joey Gathright LF .363 0 12
Ray Olmedo SS .333 0 0 Jason Larue C .155 4 12

A.J. Burnett RHP (5-6, 4.31) Brian Bannister RHP (8-6, 3.32)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
WARMUPS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT (5-6, 4.31)
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER (8-6, 3.32)

UMPIRES: HP - BRIAN KNIGHT
1B - SAM HOLBROOK
2B - RANDY MARSH
3B - BOB DAVIDSON

WEATHER: 99 Degrees, clear
WIND: 7 mph, right to left</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
STARTING BATS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT AND GREGG ZAUN
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER AND JASON LARUE

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: M STAIRS (.289, 14 HR, 42 RBI)
L OVERBAY (.249, 8 HR, 33 RBI)
A RIOS (.302, 20 HR, 65 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 1 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 (BOT 1)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: D DEJESUS (.278, 6 HR, 49 RBI)
M GRUDZIELANEK (.299, 5 HR, 38 RBI)
M TEAHEN (.289, 5 HR, 49 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292
L Overbay 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248
A Rios rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .302
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .262
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263
T Glaus 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
R Olmedo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 4 0 1 0 1 0 5

BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (18, B Bannister). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 2.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
M Grudzielanek 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .299
M Teahen rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289
B Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
R Gload 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
J Smith ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .363
J LaRue c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .155

Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
KANSAS CITY - -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
A Burnett 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.31

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.29

Pitches-strikes: B Bannister 25-15. Ground balls-fly balls: B Bannister 1-2.
Batters faced: B Bannister 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Knight. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Randy Marsh. 3B--Bob
Davidson.

Weather: 100 degrees, clear. Wind: 3 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY
CONFIRMED STARTERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 1 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: T GLAUS (.250, 15 HR, 49 RBI)
A HILL (.271, 12 HR, 61 RBI)
G ZAUN (.252, 6 HR, 31 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .292
L Overbay 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .248
A Rios rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .302
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .262
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263
T Glaus 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250
A Hill 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271
G Zaun c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .252
R Olmedo ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Totals 4 0 1 0 1 0 5

BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (18, B Bannister). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 2.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .298
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
B Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
R Gload 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
J Smith ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .363
J LaRue c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .155

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 0 -- 0
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
A Burnett 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.26

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.29

Pitches-strikes: A Burnett 16-11; B Bannister 25-15. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Burnett 2-0; B Bannister 1-2. Batters faced: A Burnett 3; B Bannister 5.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Knight. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Randy Marsh. 3B--Bob
Davidson.

Weather: 100 degrees, clear. Wind: 3 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 3 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: B BUTLER (.296, 4 HR, 31 RBI)
R GLOAD (.291, 4 HR, 37 RBI)
A GORDON (.243, 9 HR, 39 RBI)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .292
L Overbay 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .247
A Rios rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .302
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .262
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
A Hill 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .251
R Olmedo ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 9 0 3 0 2 0 9

BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (18, B Bannister). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - L Overbay 2, F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 5.


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .298
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
B Butler dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296
R Gload 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .243
J Smith ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .363
J LaRue c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .155

Totals 3 0 0 0 0 1 0

BATTING: Team LOB - 0.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 00 -- 0
KANSAS CITY - 0 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
A Burnett 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 4.26

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 2 3 0 0 2 0 0 3.26

Pitches-strikes: A Burnett 16-11; B Bannister 46-26. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Burnett 2-0; B Bannister 3-3. Batters faced: A Burnett 3; B Bannister 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Knight. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Randy Marsh. 3B--Bob
Davidson.

Weather: 100 degrees, clear. Wind: 3 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 0 3 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A RIOS (.302, 0-FOR-0, BB)
V WELLS (.262, 0-FOR-1)
F THOMAS (.263, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TORONTO (0) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .292
L Overbay 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .247
A Rios rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .302
V Wells cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .262
F Thomas dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .263
T Glaus 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249
A Hill 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .251
R Olmedo ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 9 0 3 0 2 0 9

BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (18, B Bannister). Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - L Overbay 2, F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Olmedo-A Hill-L Overbay).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .298
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
B Butler dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
R Gload 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .243
J Smith ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .211
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .363
J LaRue c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .155

Totals 6 0 1 0 1 1 2

BATTING: GIDP - R Gload. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 00 -- 0
KANSAS CITY - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
A Burnett 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.22

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 2 3 0 0 2 0 0 3.26

Pitches-strikes: A Burnett 29-18; B Bannister 46-26. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Burnett 5-0; B Bannister 3-3. Batters faced: A Burnett 7; B Bannister 11.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Knight. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Randy Marsh. 3B--Bob
Davidson.

Weather: 100 degrees, clear. Wind: 3 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
SACRIFICE FLY BY VERNON WELLS SCORED ALEX RIOS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 1
KANSAS CITY 0 TOP, 3RD

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: F THOMAS (.263, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 1 1 4 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: J GATHRIGHT (.363, 0 HR, 12 RBI)
J LARUE (.155, 4 HR, 12 RBI)
D DEJESUS (.278, 0-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TORONTO (1) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .292
L Overbay 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .247
A Rios rf 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .304
V Wells cf 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 .262
F Thomas dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .262
T Glaus 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
A Hill 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .251
R Olmedo ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 12 1 4 1 2 0 9

BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (18, B Bannister). 3B - A Rios (6, B Bannister). SF - V
Wells. RBI - V Wells (67). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - L Overbay
2, F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: DP: 1 (R Olmedo-A Hill-L Overbay).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .278
M Grudzielanek 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .298
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
B Butler dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
R Gload 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .243
J Smith ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .211
J Gathright lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .363
J LaRue c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .155

Totals 6 0 1 0 1 1 2

BATTING: GIDP - R Gload. Team LOB - 1.


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 001 -- 1
KANSAS CITY - 00 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
A Burnett 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.22

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 3 4 1 1 2 0 0 3.31

Pitches-strikes: A Burnett 29-18; B Bannister 60-35. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Burnett 5-0; B Bannister 3-6. Batters faced: A Burnett 7; B Bannister 15.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Knight. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Randy Marsh. 3B--Bob
Davidson.

Weather: 100 degrees, clear. Wind: 3 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 1 1 4 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 0 2 0 (TOP 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A HILL (.273, 1-FOR-1)
G ZAUN (.251, 0-FOR-1)
R OLMEDO (.500, 1-FOR-1)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">TORONTO (1) VS KANSAS CITY (0) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS

TORONTO ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
M Stairs lf 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .292
L Overbay 1b 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 .247
A Rios rf 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 .304
V Wells cf 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 .262
F Thomas dh 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .262
T Glaus 3b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .248
A Hill 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .273
G Zaun c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .251
R Olmedo ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .500

Totals 12 1 4 1 2 0 9

BATTING: 2B - M Stairs (18, B Bannister). 3B - A Rios (6, B Bannister). SF - V
Wells. RBI - V Wells (67). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - L Overbay
2, F Thomas 1. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: Outfield assists - A Rios (D DeJesus at Home). DP: 1 (R Olmedo-A
Hill-L Overbay).


KANSAS CITY ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
D DeJesus cf 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 .278
M Grudzielanek 2b 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .300
M Teahen rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .288
B Butler dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .300
R Gload 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .289
A Gordon 3b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .243
J Smith ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .211
J Gathright lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .359
J LaRue c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .154

Totals 9 0 2 0 2 2 2

BATTING: GIDP - R Gload. Team LOB - 2.

BASERUNNING: SB - D DeJesus (6, 2nd base off A Burnett/G Zaun).


----------------------------------------------------
TORONTO - 001 -- 1
KANSAS CITY - 000 -- 0
----------------------------------------------------

TORONTO ip h r er bb so hr era
A Burnett 3 2 0 0 2 2 0 4.18

KANSAS CITY ip h r er bb so hr era
B Bannister 3 4 1 1 2 0 0 3.31

Pitches-strikes: A Burnett 42-24; B Bannister 60-35. Ground balls-fly balls:
A Burnett 6-0; B Bannister 3-6. Batters faced: A Burnett 11; B Bannister 15.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Knight. 1B--Sam Holbrook. 2B--Randy Marsh. 3B--Bob
Davidson.

Weather: 100 degrees, clear. Wind: 3 mph, right to left.</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL AT KANSAS CITY - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY LYLE OVERBAY SCORED GREGG ZAUN AND MATT STAIRS.

SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, L OVERBAY ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TORONTO 3
KANSAS CITY 0 TOP, 4TH

DUE UP FOR TORONTO: A RIOS (.304, 1-FOR-1, BB)</div>

 

AL: TORONTO at KANSAS CITY

<div class="pre">AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
TORONTO 0 0 1 2 3 6 0
KANSAS CITY 0 0 0 0 2 0 (BOT 4)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TOR - A.J. BURNETT
KAN - BRIAN BANNISTER

DUE UP FOR KANSAS CITY: M TEAHEN (.288, 0-FOR-1)
B BUTLER (.300, 1-FOR-1)
R GLOAD (.289, 0-FOR-1)</div>