(Toronto) George Springer drove in four runs as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 5-1 on Saturday.
Springer hit two solo home runs and broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run single in the fifth.
At the beginning of the fifth, Edward Olivares created the impasse with a four-goal effort.
Springer had his first long ball game this season.
Cavan Biggio hit a single for the Blue Jays, who began a 10-game homestand.
Visitors from Monday to Thursday will be the Texas Rangers, who are chasing them for the final spot in the American League playoffs.
After beating Oakland on Saturday, Texas is in fourth place in this race, a game and a half behind the Blue Jays.
Secondly, the Seattle Mariners only have half a priority game over Toronto.
“(Going into the playoffs), that’s why we play,” Springer said. It’s an exciting time of year. It may seem cliché, but we play for moments like this, to be in the running to go further. »
Kevin Gausman (11-8) struck out 10 batters in eight innings, allowing one run, two hits and one walk.
Three of those outs were earned in the eighth.
“Kevin is one of the best pitchers in major league baseball,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. He took care of the premises. »
Jordan Hicks pitched ninth.
2009 American Cy Young winner Zack Greinke (1-15) allowed four runs and six hits in three and two-thirds innings.
The match was shown to 41,443 people at the Rogers Centre.
Bo Bichette was left out, one day after his return to the games after being among the injured (quadriceps). It’s simply a matter of taking care of it, Schneider said.
Cole Ragans and Jose Berrios will start on Sunday.
