Max Scherzer, Blue Jays hold off Royals

Max Scherzer pitched six efficient innings, Davis Schneider had two RBIs, and the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the visiting Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Saturday afternoon.

Scherzer (2-1) allowed one run, five hits, and no walks with five strikeouts.

Bo Bichette had three hits and an RBI to help Toronto gain a split of the first two games of a three-game series.

Salvador Perez hit a solo home run for the Royals.

The Blue Jays scored three in the third against Noah Cameron (5-5). Myles Straw bunted to the right side for a single. Tyler Heineman was hit by a pitch. The runners advanced on Joey Loperfido's sacrifice. Davis Schneider blooped a two-run single to right center and took second on right fielder John Rave's error. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked, and Bo Bichette stroked an RBI single to right.

Ali Sanchez took over in the fourth at catcher for Heineman, who took a hard foul off his mask in the third. The Blue Jays said that he had a head contusion.

Nick Loftin batted for Jonathan India in the fifth. India was hit on the arm by a pitch in the third. Loftin grounded out to Scherzer to move Kyle Isbel, who had doubled with one out, to third. Bobby Witt Jr. flied out to center to end the inning.

Perez hit a curveball to left with two out in the sixth for his 20th homer of the season. He is the first Royals player with nine 20-homer seasons.

Adam Frazier led off the Royals seventh with a double against Brendon Little, took third on a groundout and scored on Isbel's sacrifice bunt to the pitcher.

For the game, Cameron allowed four runs, six hits, and one walk with one strikeout in 6 1/3 innings.

With one out and one on in the home seventh, Steven Cruz replaced Cameron. He walked pinch hitter Nathan Lukes and allowed Ernie Clement's RBI single. Cruz left with shoulder discomfort with a 0-2 count on Guerrero. Taylor Clarke took over and induced a double play grounder.

Jeff Hoffman pitched a perfect ninth for his 26th save.