Colby Rasmus Powers Blue Jays Past Royals 7-3

May 1, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Colby Rasmus (28) is congratulated by center fielder Anthony Gose (8) after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals in the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Royals had their chances to finish off a sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays. Instead, the Blue Jays came back against Jeremy Guthrie and salvaged the final game of the series, defeating the Royals 7-3.

Toronto ran wild on Guthrie and the Royals in the first. Chris Getz singled and stole second with one out. After Jose bautista walked, the Blue Jays executed a double steal. That move proved fruitful, as Edwin Encarnacion grounded into a fielder’s choice to plate the first run of the game.

Kansas City took advantage of the Blue Jays defense in the second. After Justin Maxwell drew a two out walk, Alcides Escobar singled to right. Bautista bobbled the ball, allowing Maxwell to tie the game and getting Escobar to second. The Royals took the lead the very next inning. Omar Infante walked and was followed by Eric Hosmer‘s double to put runners on second and third with no outs. Billy Butler grounded a single through the hole at short to plate Infante, giving the Royals the lead. Hosmer was waved home, but for the second consecutive night, was thrown out at the plate.

The lead did not last long. With one on and one out, Juan Francisco continued his career trend of owning Guthrie, belting a two run home run to extremely deep right field. With that swing, Francisco was 3-5 against Guthrie, with all three hits going for home runs. The Royals tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Butler struck once again, driving the ball to deep left center to plate Infante with the tying run.

Instead of faltering like they did on Tuesday, the Blue Jays came right back. After striking out the first two batters in the sixth, Guthrie was one strike away from striking out the side. Instead, Colby Rasmus hit a wind aided home run to right, putting the Blue Jays on top.

The wheels fell off in the eighth. Michael Mariot had pitched a perfect seventh in relief of Guthrie, but fell apart to start the inning. A walk and two singles loaded the bases, bringing up Rasmus once again. This time, Mariot walked him on four pitches, the final three not even close to the strike zone. That was enough for Mariot, as Louis Coleman was summoned from the bullpen to quell the rally. Instead, he gave up a two run double to Anthony Gose on his first pitch, giving the Blue Jays a 7-3 lead. While Coleman escaped further trouble, the damage had already been done.

Aaron Loup shut the Royals offense down over the final two innings to preserve the 7-3 victory. Jeremy Guthrie took the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks, striking out four over his six innings of work.

Butler was 2-4 with a double and two RBIs in the loss.