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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
TORONTO (AP) – Roberto Hernandez is fitting in perfectly with
the Kansas City Royals.
|  | | Royals catcher Hector Ortiz tags Toronto's Alex Gonzalez as he slides into home during the sixth. |
Carlos Delgado's RBI single capped Toronto's rally from a
three-run ninth-inning deficit against Hernandez and gave the Blue
Jays a 5-4 victory over the Royals on Saturday.
Hernandez, acquired in the offseason, allowed all four runs to
blow his second save and take the loss. The Royals have blown 58
saves, mostly by former closer Jeff Montgomery, the last two-plus
seasons.
"We should be feeling better, but the hole got deeper today,"
Kansas City manager Tony Muser said after the Royals fell to 2-9.
"Roberto's had slow starts in the past. He's going to get
going, except everything in life is timing, and we've gotten off to
a slow start. One week doesn't make a season, but pretty soon you
bury yourself."
Hernandez (0-2) walked Darrin Fletcher and pinch-hitter Jose
Cruz Jr. before Shannon Stewart hit an RBI double and Alex Gonzalez
hit a run-scoring grounder. After Raul Mondesi tied it with an RBI
single, he stole second before Delgado, who also homered earlier,
hit a bloop single to center field.
"When you've got a three-run lead, you can't afford to walk
anybody," said Hernandez, who knows the Royals have had problems
closing games.
"That's very well chronicled the last few years, but mentally
I'm tough enough to put this outing, and the outing before this
away."
Bob File (1-0) pitched one-third of an inning and got the win in
his major league debut.
Mark Quinn went 3-for-4 for the Royals, who have lost five
straight.
"It's not easy being 2-9, but we've just got to peck away,"
Hernandez said.
Delgado's AL-leading sixth homer gave Toronto a 1-0 lead in the
second.
Carlos Beltran's sacrifice fly tied it in the third, and Rey
Sanchez's RBI triple in the fifth gave Kansas City the lead.
After Quinn singled to lead off the sixth, he stole second and
advanced to third on Toronto starter Joey Hamilton's errant
pickoff attempt.
Dye followed with an RBI grounder, giving Kansas City a 3-1
lead.
Mike Sweeney homered off John Frascatore in the ninth to make it
4-1.
"It's tough being down 4-1 in the ninth, but we gave it our
best shot," Delgado said. "I'll take the win, but we shouldn't
wait until the ninth and say 'Hey, they've got a pretty good chance
of blowing it."'
Hamilton allowed three runs – two earned – on six hits in seven
innings. He walked none and struck out five.
"Hernandez helped us out," Hamilton said. "He was a little
wild tonight."
Game notes
Quinn has 17 hits in his last 34 at-bats. ... Toronto
manager Buck Martinez was a catcher in the Royals organization from
1969-77. ... After finishing 11 games below .500 on the road last
season, the Royals have dropped their first five games away from
Kauffman Stadium. ... Quinn has hit safely in every game but the
season opener.
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RECAPS
NY Yankees 3
Boston 2
Detroit 1
Cleveland 0
Toronto 5
Kansas City 4
Baltimore 6
Tampa Bay 5
Texas 9
Oakland 8
Minnesota 9
Chi. White Sox 4
Seattle 2
Anaheim 1
Cincinnati 1
NY Mets 0
Houston 7
St. Louis 4
Chicago Cubs 7
Pittsburgh 6
Colorado 9
Arizona 8
Philadelphia 2
Atlanta 1
Milwaukee 11
San Francisco 6
Montreal 8
Florida 2
San Diego 5
Los Angeles 4
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