Witt, Wacha push Royals to 9-3 win over Blue Jays
TORONTO — Bobby Witt Jr. belted a three-run homer and veteran starter Michael Wacha pitched a three-hitter to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 9-3 win in the opener of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.
Witt's blow came off Toronto starter Kevin Gausman (7-8) and was the second of four homers for the visitors as the Royals (55-55) won their third straight.
The Blue Jays (64-47) were without George Springer for a fourth straight game. He was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list on Friday, retroactive to July 29.
The home team snatched the lead in the first inning with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s 16th, a 428-foot blast into the left-field seats.
But a two-run homer from Mike Yastrzemski in the second inning put the Royals up for good. Witt followed with his three-run homer in the third.
In his eight innings, the 34-year-old Wacha (5-9) allowed only two hits after the Guerrero homer with no walks and five strikeouts.
Gausman managed to last six innings despite the rough beginning. He surrendered his five runs on six hits and no walks with five strikeouts.
Daulton Varsho (hamstring) returned from his two-month stay on the sidelines to play centre. Designated hitter Ty France and reliever Louis Varland made their Blue Jays debuts.
France went 0-for-4, while Varland pitched a 1-2-3 seventh. Varsho was 0-for-3.
Toronto reliever Mason Fluharty yielded a solo shot to Salvador Perez and a two-run homer by Adam Frazier in the Royals' four-run ninth.
Addison Barger countered a two-run shot in the bottom half of the inning.
TAKEAWAYS
Royals: Yastrzemski, acquired from the San Francisco Giants on Thursday, impressed his new teammates with a one-out two-run homer in his first at-bat.
Blue Jays: Alejandro Kirk (concussion) had a two-run single in three at-bats in a rehab assignment in triple-A Buffalo on Friday. He also picked off a runner at third base. Toronto expects to have him in the lineup on Sunday.
KEY MOMENT
Witt's three-run homer with none out in the third inning pushed the Royals to a four-run advantage.
KEY STAT
The Blue Jays slipped to 9-6 since the all-star break, having lost four of their last five games.
UP NEXT
Max Scherzer (1-1) will face Kansas City's Noah Cameron (5-4) on Saturday in the middle outing of the three-game series.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2025.
Tim Wharnsby, The Canadian Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
16 minutes ago
- CBC
Canadian teen Victoria Mboko wins National Bank Open championship
The 18-year-old from Toronto defeated Naomi Osaka of Japan 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 at IGA Stadium in Montreal on Thursday.
Toronto Sun
18 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
'I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS GETTING BACK': Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez returns from latest cancer battle
Get the latest from Rob Longley straight to your inbox Buck Martinez, who lives in New Port Richey, north of Clearwater, left the area in because of Hurricane Milton. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette When Blue Jays baseball fans across Canada last heard the familiar soundtrack of their summer from Buck Martinez, the team was far from the thing that they are today. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account It was May 28 when the beloved Jays broadcaster signed off following a 2-0 win in Texas improved their record to a modest 27-28. But if you think the journey of the ball team has been something, it's pales to what Martinez has endured, even though the baseball lifer would abhor the comparison. We'll let the ultimate storyteller take it from here, though. 'After the Texas game, I had an appointment in Houston to see my doctor and I had some tests and the results came back that I had cancer in my lung,' Martinez said in a phone interview on Thursday after settling into his Los Angeles hotel following a long day of travel to get him back to work. 'It was the same cancer I had, but it had gone to my lungs.' In the 10 weeks since, the Jays have emerged as one of the best teams in baseball. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In the 10 weeks since, the 76-year-old Martinez has fought like hell to return to the game he loves so much. That welcome-back moment comes on Friday night at the famed Dodger Stadium when Martinez retakes his position alongside play-by-play man Dan Shulman for the first game of a three-game series against the World Series champions. Coast-to-coast, Canadians will stay up late to hear the man who has detailed the highs and lows of their baseball team for decades. It will be an emotional return for his Sportsnet colleagues and who have missed the heartbeat of the team along the way. And typically, Martinez doesn't want anyone to make a fuss: 'I don't want them to make a big deal, I mean they did that last time,' he says. 'Hey, I was away. I'm back. Let's get to work.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. It was much more than being absent, of course. As he was intently following from afar the rise of the team that has been such a big part of his career, Martinez was battling through the uncertainty of his future — and more than just professionally. 'After the first session of chemo, I couldn't walk,' Martinez said. 'It flared up my knee so bad, I had to have a cane. I couldn't move my shoulder. But that's the last time I've had any (troubles.) Nothing that's going to keep me from working.' Though he's ready to return to work, Martinez isn't completely free of treatment. He'll call the Dodgers series this weekend then return to Toronto for a six-game homestand — and how great will that be. Then he returns to Houston for one final chemo session. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'I will be away again for another two weeks, so I don't want people to think I've had a relapse or anything,' he says. 'After that, I'll be back on the first of September for the rest of the rodeo.' In our conversation on Thursday, Martinez was candid about the emotional and physical challenges of his summer, one in which he missed a planned 50th anniversary cruise with his wife Arlene as he endured the anguish of his regular chemo treatments. As the Jays were doing their thing and he desperately wanted to return to tell the stories and live it with the fan base, he knew there were no guarantees. 'I didn't know if I was getting back,' Martinez admitted. 'That was a big thing. When I first found out about it I was pretty grumpy. But my wife has been phenomenal. She never let me feel sorry for myself. She always pointed to the children we saw in (the hospital) in Houston and said you don't have it so bad. She's a rock.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. And then a shot of the familiar Martinez feistiness when we asked him when he got the green light to return to the booth. 'I don't know if I really got the clearance,' he said. 'I just told them I was going back. '(My energy) is good. I've been working out, riding the bike and doing the treadmill.' As it always does with him, the enthusiasm of a conversation with Martinez jumps noticeably when it shifts to baseball from his own travails. As you would expect, he's immensely impressed with that the Jays have done and it's clear that he hasn't missed much action. 'These guys have played their ass off,' Martinez said. 'And they play baseball. They catch it. They throw it. They run the bases better than they have in the past, and they're just playing for each other. And that's important. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It reminds me of the '85 team and that was one of the best teams in the franchise history. 'It's going to be fun (returning to the booth), there's no question. I mean, how can you not enjoy it? My friends are all asking me 'You must really be excited to be back when the team is play as well as they are.' And yeah, it's great. It will be fun.' Read More Besides his indebtedness to his wife, Martinez said the road back was made easier by unwavering support of his Sportsnet colleagues and management. 'Dan (Shulman), Joe (Siddall) and Caleb (Joseph) did a great job picking up the slack and going to bat for me,' Martinez said. 'And (senior Sportsnet executives Rob Corte and Dave Tredgett) have been incredibly supportive. They told me to take as much time as you need. The only thing that matters is getting healthy and recover.' Martinez took all the support to heart and with wife Arlene at his side. 'She has been a champion, man. She has pushed me and kept me in line and got me healthy,' he said. He's ready to return to his other true love. 'It's my life,' Martinez said when he asked what he was looking forward to the most. 'It's been my life since I was 18 years old. And you don't realize what a big part of your life it is until it's taken away for a second time. I've been very fortunate.' RECOMMENDED VIDEO Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto & GTA Tennis Columnists Toronto Maple Leafs
Edmonton Journal
18 minutes ago
- Edmonton Journal
'I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS GETTING BACK': Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez returns from latest cancer battle
Article content When Blue Jays baseball fans across Canada last heard the familiar soundtrack of their summer from Buck Martinez, the team was far from the thing that they are today. Article content It was May 28 when the beloved Jays broadcaster signed off following a 2-0 win in Texas improved their record to a modest 27-28. Article content But if you think the journey of the ball team has been something, it's pales to what Martinez has endured, even though the baseball lifer would abhor the comparison. Article content Article content We'll let the ultimate storyteller take it from here, though. Article content Article content 'After the Texas game, I had an appointment in Houston to see my doctor and I had some tests and the results came back that I had cancer in my lung,' Martinez said in a phone interview on Thursday after settling into his Los Angeles hotel following a long day of travel to get him back to work. Article content 'It was the same cancer I had, but it had gone to my lungs.' Article content In the 10 weeks since, the Jays have emerged as one of the best teams in baseball. Article content In the 10 weeks since, the 76-year-old Martinez has fought like hell to return to the game he loves so much. Article content That welcome-back moment comes on Friday night at the famed Dodger Stadium when Martinez retakes his position alongside play-by-play man Dan Shulman for the first game of a three-game series against the World Series champions. Coast-to-coast, Canadians will stay up late to hear the man who has detailed the highs and lows of their baseball team for decades. Article content Article content It will be an emotional return for his Sportsnet colleagues and who have missed the heartbeat of the team along the way. Article content Article content And typically, Martinez doesn't want anyone to make a fuss: 'I don't want them to make a big deal, I mean they did that last time,' he says. 'Hey, I was away. I'm back. Let's get to work.' Article content It was much more than being absent, of course. As he was intently following from afar the rise of the team that has been such a big part of his career, Martinez was battling through the uncertainty of his future — and more than just professionally. Article content 'After the first session of chemo, I couldn't walk,' Martinez said. 'It flared up my knee so bad, I had to have a cane. I couldn't move my shoulder. But that's the last time I've had any (troubles.) Nothing that's going to keep me from working.' Article content Though he's ready to return to work, Martinez isn't completely free of treatment. He'll call the Dodgers series this weekend then return to Toronto for a six-game homestand — and how great will that be. Then he returns to Houston for one final chemo session.
