UPDATE: The Kansas City Royals delivered a stunning blow to the Toronto Blue Jays, crushing them 20-1 in an explosive game on September 15, 2023. This decisive victory featured a jaw-dropping seven-run first inning, highlighted by a three-run homer from Salvador Perez.
In a game that had fans on the edge of their seats, the Royals sent a staggering 10 batters to the plate against veteran pitcher Max Scherzer (5-4). Scherzer’s performance marked the shortest non-injury start of his career, as he exited after just two outs, allowing seven hits. This outing stands as his briefest since June 11, 2021, when he faced only one batter before leaving with an injury.
The Royals quickly erased an early 1-0 deficit after George Springer hit a homer for Toronto. Carter Jensen ignited the Royals with a leadoff double, followed by Bobby Witt Jr.‘s RBI single, and Vinnie Pasquantino‘s double into the left-field corner, giving Kansas City a lead they would not relinquish.
After a walk to Maikel Garcia and the ejection of Toronto pitching coach Pete Walker, Perez launched his 30th home run, extending Kansas City’s lead to 7-1. The Royals continued their offensive onslaught, with Michael Massey adding a two-run homer later in the inning.
Jensen, batting leadoff for the first time, made history by becoming the first Royals player to hit multiple doubles in the same inning, achieving this feat against Scherzer and later hitting a two-run double in the third.
As the game progressed, Jac Caglianone added to the Royals’ tally with a three-run homer in the seventh, contributing to a staggering total of 10 runs and 13 hits in just over an inning against catcher Tyler Heineman. Kansas City recorded a franchise-record 27 hits throughout the game, showcasing their dominant performance.
On the pitching side, starter Michael Lorenzen (6-11) secured his first victory since July 6, allowing only one run and three hits over 7 2/3 innings, while striking out four batters.
This rout is significant as Toronto’s 19-run loss ties the largest margin by a division leader in a September or later regular-season game, matching the 20-1 defeat suffered by the Padres against the Rockies in 2005, according to ESPN Research.
The Royals’ stunning performance not only marks a remarkable moment in their season but also raises questions about the Blue Jays’ standings as they head into the final weeks of the regular season. Fans and analysts will be keenly watching how both teams respond in their upcoming matchups.
Stay tuned for further updates as the season progresses and both teams vie for playoff positions!
