MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: AMERICAN LEAGUE

Jays best Royals; Price likes popcorn

Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson (left) has his jersey ripped off by teammates after his RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning gave the Blue Jays a 7-6 victory over Kansas City on Friday.
Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson (left) has his jersey ripped off by teammates after his RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning gave the Blue Jays a 7-6 victory over Kansas City on Friday.

BLUE JAYS 7, ROYALS 6 (11)

TORONTO -- David Price was pleased with the popcorn waiting in his locker when he finally arrived in Toronto.

Hours later, Josh Donaldson gave Price something even better: a dramatic victory for his new team.

Donaldson singled home Troy Tulowitzki in the 11th inning, and the new-look Blue Jays rallied to beat Kansas City 7-6 on Friday night and hand Johnny Cueto a no-decision in his Royals debut.

After acquiring Tulowitzki and reliever LaTroy Hawkins from Colorado and Price from Detroit, the Blue Jays obtained right-hander Mark Lowe from Seattle and outfielder Ben Revere from Philadelphia ahead of Friday's trade deadline.

"This organization definitely put their best foot forward at the trade deadline, and you've got to love seeing that," Price said in a postgame press conference.

Tulowitzki played a key role in the victory. He singled with one out in the 11th and advanced on a balk by Franklin Morales (3-1).

Donaldson followed with a single to left-center, giving Toronto its third consecutive victory and sending the AL champion Royals to their third consecutive loss.

"He left me a pitch over the middle of the plate, what I was kind of waiting for the entire time," Donaldson said. "I didn't miss it."

Donaldson, mobbed at first base after his winning hit, went 3 for 4 with 1 walk and 4 RBI. Liam Hendriks (3-0) pitched one inning for the victory.

Price was delayed by a flat tire on his way to Toronto, scuttling plans for an afternoon press conference. The left-hander said he was on Interstate 94 near Chesterfield, Mich., when his right rear tire blew.

"I got the extra tire put on and the guy was like 'Where are you headed?' " Price said. "I was like 'I'm going to Toronto,' and he was like 'You can't make it there on this tire.' I went to Discount Tires, they didn't have a tire to fit my back tire and then I just had to sit in a Target parking lot and wait for the tow truck to come and wait for my ride to arrive."

Price, who makes no secret of his taste for the popcorn at Rogers Centre, had six bags waiting for him in his locker.

"I think some guys might have taken some before I got here but I was completely OK with that," he said. "This is the best popcorn I've ever had."

Cueto, obtained from Cincinnati last Sunday for three minor league pitchers, gave up 3 runs and 7 hits in 6 innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

"I thought he threw the ball great," Manager Ned Yost said.

Outfielder Lorenzo Cain said Cueto was "locked in."

"He did a great job his first start here," Cain said. "Unfortunately we didn't hold the lead there at the end."

Kansas City took a 3-0 lead off Drew Hutchison in the first on Kendrys Morales' RBI double and Ben Zobrist's two-run single. Morales managed to evade Russell Martin's tag at home plate, stepping over the fallen catcher.

Donaldson hit a two-run double in the third, and Toronto tied it in the fourth on Kevin Pillar's RBI single.

Kansas City went ahead 5-3 in the fifth. Hutchison left after Cain's leadoff single and Aaron Loup came on to face Eric Hosmer, who hit a slow grounder to third. Donaldson's errant throw to first went down the right-field line, allowing Cain to score and advancing Hosmer to third. He scored on Morales' sacrifice fly off Bo Schultz.

MARINERS 6, TWINS 1 Taijuan Walker pitched a one-hitter for his first career complete game in 29 major league starts, and Nelson Cruz and Jesus Montero homered to lift Seattle over host Minnesota.

ORIOLES 8, TIGERS 7 Adam Jones and Manny Machado homered, and Baltimore rallied from a six-run deficit to beat visiting Detroit.

RED SOX 7, RAYS 5 The Red Sox held on to Mike Napoli at the trading deadline, and he responded a few hours later with a two-run home run off the top of the Green Monster that led host Boston over Tampa Bay.

YANKEES 13, WHITE SOX 6 Mark Teixeira homered from both sides of the plate for a record 14th time, hitting his 10th grand slam and a two-run home run that led visiting New York over Chicago.

INDIANS 2, ATHLETICS 1 Danny Salazar pitched eight innings of one-hit ball, Michael Bourn doubled in the tiebreaking run in the eighth, and Cleveland beat host Oakland for its third consecutive victory.

INTERLEAGUE

RANGERS 6, GIANTS 3 Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre homered as host Texas beat San Francisco in the Giants' first visit since clinching the 2010 World Series in Texas. Madison Bumgarner (11-6) gave up both home runs and helped ignite a benches-clearing fracas when he shouted something toward the Rangers bench at the end of the fourth inning.

DIAMONDBACKS 6, ASTROS 4 (10) Wellington Castillo and Jake Lamb homered to open the 10th inning, and visiting Arizona beat Houston for its season-high sixth consecutive victory. Castillo had three hits and finished a triple shy of the cycle.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CARDINALS 7, ROCKIES 0 Matt Carpenter homered for the third time in two games, Michael Wacha pitched seven crisp innings and St. Louis beat visiting Colorado. Jhonny Peralta added a two-run homer for the Cardinals (66-37).

PHILLIES 9, BRAVES 3 Domonic Brown hit a two-run home run and Ryan Howard drove in four runs, helping David Buchanan and host Philadelphia beat Atlanta. Buchanan (2-5) allowed 3 runs and 8 hits in 7 1/3 innings.

PIRATES 5, REDS 4 Andrew McCutchen hit another home run at Great American Ball Park, and visiting Pittsburgh's rebuilt bullpen was shaky but delivered, holding on for a victory over Cincinnati.

PADRES 8, MARLINS 3 (11) A.J. Ramos forced home the tiebreaking run with a bases-loaded, four-pitch walk in the 11th inning, Jedd Gyorko added a two-run single and San Diego beat host Miami.

METS 2, NATIONALS 1 (12) New fan favorite Wilmer Flores hit a leadoff home run in the 12th to give New York a victory over visiting Washington in the opener of a pivotal series between the top teams in the NL East.

CUBS 4, BREWERS 1 Jason Hammel beat host Milwaukee for the seventh consecutive decision with his first victory in almost two months and Anthony Rizzo homered to lead Chicago Cubs past the rebuilding Brewers.

Sports on 08/01/2015

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