Jose Reyes hurt as Blue Jays beat Royals 8-4

By DAVE SKRETTA

Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jose Reyes heard a pop in his left ankle as he awkwardly slid into second base. After that, everything else was a blur to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

The trainers lifted their star shortstop onto a cart, and the cart drove through the bullpen gate in right field. The sight was of Reyes, his ankle heavily bandaged, being pushed out of their clubhouse after an 8-4 win over the Kansas City Royals, on his way to have an MRI exam.

The sound of general manager Alex Anthopoulos on the phone with other GMs, already trying to make a deal for a replacement amid the sobering news that Reyes could be out up to three months.

“It’s on everybody’s mind,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “Doesn’t matter if he’s on our team or another team, in the baseball world — the baseball community — your heart goes out to whoever it might be. In this case, he’s one of the top guys in the game.”

Reyes had just driven in two runs with a base hit when he was attempting to steal second base in the sixth inning. He appeared to be indecisive about whether to go in sliding or standing, and made the late choice to hit the dirt, his trailing ankle twisting cruelly beneath him.

Reyes slid over the bag, and then rolled around on the dirt, screaming in pain. Trainers for both teams ran out to help him while a green cart was driven in from the outfield.

“It didn’t look good, obviously,” Blue Jays starter J.A. Happ said.

Anthopoulos said the results of the MRI exam may not be known until Saturday, and while the initial diagnosis was a sprained left ankle, the GM acknowledged Reyes is headed for the disabled list and that it could be months before he is back in the lineup.

“You never want to see it, but at the same time, you’ve been through enough to know it’s going to happen over the course of the season,” Anthopoulos said.

“If it’s good news, you’re looking at four weeks,” he said. “The other scenario could be three months, or if something comes up we’re not expecting, it could be more than that.”

Happ (2-0), the only Blue Jays starter to win this season, gave up three runs on 41 pitches in the first inning. But he survived a couple shaky stretches to last four more frames, and Aaron Loup went the final three innings for his first career save.

Adam Lind and Emilio Bonifacio also drove in two runs each for the Blue Jays, who hammered the Royals’ Luis Mendoza (0-1) for eight runs — seven of them earned — in just 5 2-3 innings.

“He really struggled to get the feel of his breaking ball, struggled to keep it down in the zone,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “There were some times he was trying to bounce it and couldn’t do it. It was just one of those nights. He wasn’t near as sharp as he was in Philly.”

Lorenzo Cain drove in a pair of runs for Kansas City, which couldn’t overcome some shaky pitching and even shakier defense. The Royals committed three errors, matching their season total.

Toronto struck first for just the second time all season when J.P. Arencibia’s single to left and a double by Lind down the right-field line gave the Blue Jays a 2-0 lead.

The Royals answered back with three in the bottom half.

Salvador Perez’s single to right drove in the first run. Happ loaded the bases moments later, earning a visit from Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker, and then watched Cain smack the first pitch he saw to center field to give Kansas City a 3-2 lead.

Bonifacio pulled the Blue Jays back ahead in the second when he doubled off the wall in right to drive in a run. The speedster headed for third on the throw to the plate, and then scored when Perez threw the ball down the left-field line — the catcher’s second error of the game.

Lind delivered a sacrifice fly in the third to extend the Blue Jays’ lead, and Alcides Escobar matched him with a double in the fifth to pull Kansas City back within 5-4.

Bonifacio’s two-out double in the sixth gave Toronto its two-run cushion back. Luke Hochevar came in to relieve Mendoza, and Reyes followed with a two-run single to make the score 8-4.

That’s when the star shortstop attempted to steal second.

The momentum of his late slide carried him over the base, and his ankle twisted backward as second base umpire Marvin Hudson signaled safe. Reyes screamed in pain, and then pulled the front of his blue jersey over his face as trainers from both teams ran out onto the infield.

A hush fell over the crowd, and Blue Jays’ clubhouse was so quiet that it seemed as if they had lost the game rather than won when it opened shortly after the final out was made.

“Jose is great. He’s a big part of this team. I can’t emphasize that enough,” Anthopoulos said. “Every team goes through these things. I don’t believe we’re a team built on one player, no matter how great a player it is. Just continue to move forward.”

NEW YORK — The Yankees turned a triple play at home for the first time in 45 years, Adam Jones dropped Vernon Wells’ fly ball while blowing a bubble for a tiebreaking three-run error and New York beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 Friday night for its fourth straight win.

CC Sabathia (2-1) allowed two runs — one earned — and eight hits with nine strikeouts and no walks. Mariano Rivera finished for his second save as New York (5-4) moved over .500 for the first time this year.

Jones — a Gold Glove center fielder — ranged back for Wells’ fly ball and closed his glove too early. Then in the eighth, Manny Machado hit a sharp low liner that second baseman Robinson Cano pick up on a hop, starting New York’s first triple play in the Bronx since June 3, 1968, against Minnesota.

Miguel Gonzalez (1-1) was the loser.

ATHLETICS 4, TIGERS 3, 12 INNINGS

OAKLAND, Calif. — Josh Donaldson homered with one out in the 12th inning, lifting Oakland over Detroit for its ninth straight victory.

Donaldson’s opposite-field drive to right off Brayan Villarreal (0-2) was his first career game-ending hit.

Prince Fielder homered and had four hits for the Tigers, who beat Oakland in the playoffs last season on their way to the World Series.

Ramon Santiago hit a two-out triple in the top of the 12th before Chris Resop (1-0) retired Austin Jackson on a fly to center.

The A’s improved to an AL-best 9-2, just the third time in Oakland history the club has opened at least 9-2. Only the Atlanta Braves at 9-1 have a better record than Oakland.

Fielder hit a three-run shot and Max Scherzer struck out 11, but the Tigers didn’t get enough from the bottom of their batting order. The last five hitters went a combined 2 for 25.

INDIANS 1, WHITE SOX 0

CLEVELAND — Justin Masterson (3-0) pitched a five-hitter for the first complete game in the AL this year, and Nick Swishe hit a two-out RBI single in the ninth off Jesse Crain (0-1).

Masterson, who has three of Cleveland’s four wins, extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to a career-high 19.

BLUE JAYS 8, ROYALS 4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Toronto’s Jose Reyes drove in a pair of runs before getting carted off in the sixth inning with a sprained left ankle.

Reyes was attempting to steal second when he started his slide late. The four-time All-Star’s left ankle twisted awkwardly beneath him as he slid over the bag, and trainers from both teams ran out to help as Reyes screamed in pain on the infield dirt.

He was carted off the field and taken to a hospital for an MRI. The results were not immediately known.

J.A. Happ (2-0), Toronto’s only starter to win this year, gave up three runs on 41 pitches in the first inning, but survived through five innings.

Luis Mendoza (0-1) allowed eight runs — seven earned — seven hits and three walks in 5 2-3 innings.

MARINERS 3, RANGERS 1

SEATTLE — Kyle Seager had a two-run double, Hisashi Iwakuma made it stand with 6 2-3 strong innings and Seattle beat Texas to end a three-game skid.

Iwakuma (2-0) got the better of countryman Yu Darvish in the seventh pitching matchup between the two, both in Japan and the majors. Darvish (2-1) holds a 4-3 advantage when they face each other on the mound.

Raul Ibanez hit an RBI single in a three-run first for the Mariners.

Iwakuma kept the Rangers’ bats silent until the fourth inning when Ian Kinsler led off with a homer. That proved to be the extent of the Rangers’ offense as Iwakuma and three relievers combined to shut down Texas.

Tom Wilhelmsen pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

ASTROS 5, ANGELS 0

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Bud Norris pitched three-hit ball over seven innings, Rick Ankiel drove in three runs and Houston defeated Los Angeles in their first meeting as AL West rivals.

Justin Maxwell hit his first home run of the season, helping the Astros win their third in a row after six straight losses. Norris (2-1) struck out five and walked two.

Rookie manager Bo Porter used three relievers in the ninth to clinch the combined four-hitter.

The Angels, coming off a three-game sweep by Oakland, have lost five straight. Singles by Brendan Harris, Mark Trumbo and Hank Conger were their only hits against Norris.

The Angels are off to a 2-8 start, matching the worst in franchise history. The inaugural 1961 club also lost eight of its first 10.

Tommy Hanson (1-1) threw 108 pitches through five innings, giving up five runs, eight hits and two walks.

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INTERLEAGUE

METS 16, TWINS 5

MINNEAPOLIS — John Buck kept up his powerful start with a grand slam, his fourth home run in the last four games, and New York beat Minnesota as snowflakes fell at Target Field.

Buck became only the fourth major league player in at least 92 years to reach 19 RBIs in the first 10 games of a season, according to STATS research dating to 1921. Chris Davis did it for Baltimore this year, Manny Ramirez for Cleveland in 1999 and Lou Gehrig for the Yankees in 1927.

In his first two weeks with the Mets after being traded twice during the offseason, Buck already has six homers. His career high is 20.

Jonathon Niese (2-0) lasted only five innings in frigid weather, ending his streak of 22 consecutive starts of six or more that dated to last June. That was the longest current run in the majors. He threw 101 pitches, giving up five hits, five runs (four earned) and four walks.

David Wright drove in four runs and missed the cycle by a home run, Daniel Murphy had four hits and four RBIs and the Mets didn’t let the wintry conditions hurt their offense in any way. They overwhelmed Twins starter Vance Worley (0-2), who got three outs and gave up nine runs.

BRAVES 6, NATIONALS 4

WASHINGTON — Ramiro Pena hit a two-run homer off Craig Stammen with two outs in the 10th inning and the Braves came back to beat the Nationals, stretching their winning streak to seven games.

Pena, who reached on a bunt as a pinch hitter in the eighth, helped Atlanta win a game it trailed 4-0 after two innings and 4-2 entering the ninth.

Bryce Harper hit a two-run, opposite-field shot in the first for his fifth homer, and Denard Span and Jayson Werth tacked on RBI singles in the second for the Nationals.

Eric O’Flaherty (2-0) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the win, and Craig Kimbrel retired the heart of Washington’s order for his fifth save in five chances.

With one out in the 10th, Stammen (2-1) walked Dan Uggla. After a flyout, Pena hit his first homer of the season.

The Braves, a major league-leading 9-1, handed Washington its first loss in seven home games.

CUBS 4, GIANTS 3

CHICAGO — Starlin Castro’s ninth-inning double off the center-field wall gave Chicago a wild win over San Francisco.

The Cubs led 2-0 heading into the top of the ninth, but closer Kyuji Fujikawa (1-0) allowed a one-out RBI single to Pablo Sandoval and hit Buster Posey with a pitch before Brandon Belt’s two-run double with two outs put the Giants ahead.

Pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro tied the game with a leadoff homer in the bottom half against closer Sergio Romo (0-1). David DeJesus singled with two outs and scored the winning run on Castro’s double.

It was Romo’s first blown save in seven chances this season.

Giants ace Matt Cain made his first start since giving up nine earned runs in 3 2-3 innings during a 14-3 loss to St. Louis last Sunday. This time, Cain allowed only solo homers to DeJesus and Castro in seven solid innings.

Chicago starter Carlos Villanueva gave up three hits in 7 1-3 shutout innings.

PIRATES 6, REDS 5

PITTSBURGH — Andrew McCutchen hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning and drove in three runs to lead Pittsburgh past Cincinnati.

McCutchen’s leadoff shot to left field off J.J. Hoover (0-3) snapped a 5-all tie.

The Reds had just tied the score in the top of the seventh on Brandon Phillips’ second home run of the game, a two-run drive to center off Tony Watson (1-0).

Phillips struck out to end the game with runners on first and second as Jason Grilli pitched a scoreless ninth for his fourth save.

Neil Walker and McCutchen hit consecutive two-run singles in the second to give the Pirates a 5-1 lead. Pittsburgh has won three of four overall after starting the season 1-5.

CARDINALS 2, BREWERS 0

ST. LOUIS — Cardinals rookie Shelby Miller allowed one hit in seven innings, a single by Norichika Aoki to open the game, and St. Louis did just enough on offense against Milwaukee to spoil Kyle Lohse’s first start as a visitor since 2007.

A near-sellout crowd of 42,528 bundled up in 44-degree chill for the second Stan Musial tribute of the opening homestand, featuring a harmonica giveaway and the unveiling of a memorial plaque attached to the iconic Musial statue outside Busch Stadium. Seven members of the Musial family threw simultaneous first pitches and Musial’s No. 6 was cut into the outfield grass in center.

David Freese had an RBI single and Yadier Molina hit his second homer for the Cardinals, who have allowed one run during a three-game winning streak.

Lohse (0-1), a 16-game winner last season whom the Cardinals did not attempt to re-sign, allowed two runs in seven innings while throwing 82 pitches — 31 fewer than Miller needed. Lohse received a nice ovation before his first at-bat.

Miller (2-0) had a career-best eight strikeouts in his third career start, one more than he had in his debut against the Reds in the 2012 regular-season finale. He retired his final 17 batters.

ROCKIES 7, PADRES 5

SAN DIEGO — Dexter Fowler’s second home run of the game and sixth this season, a solo shot off Huston Street in the ninth inning, snapped a tie and sent Colorado to a victory over San Diego.

Padres slugger Carlos Quentin was in the cleanup spot after appealing an eight-game suspension for his role in a wild fight with the Los Angeles Dodgers the previous night. Quentin, also fined $3,000, went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.

Todd Helton had three hits for the Rockies, who stopped a three-game slide.

Yonder Alonso hit a two-run homer for the Padres (2-8), who have lost three straight.

Fowler, who hit a solo drive in the fifth, connected off Street (0-1) in the ninth. Josh Rutledge followed with his first home run, and the back-to-back shots made a winner of reliever Rex Brothers (1-0).

Rafael Betancourt worked the ninth for his fourth save in five opportunities.

Colorado tied it at 5 with a pair of unearned runs off reliever Luke Gregerson in the eighth after an error by rookie Jedd Gyorko at third base.

PHILLIES 3, MARLINS 1, 10 INNINGS

MIAMI — Chase Utley hit a go-ahead triple in the 10th inning off Jon Rauch, and Philadelphia handed Miami its ninth loss in 10 games this season.

Miami is off to the poorest start by a big league team since Baltimore and Houston lost nine of their first 10 games in 2010, according to STATS. The Marlins, held to four singles by John Lannan and four relievers, are batting .209 with two home runs and 15 extra-base hits.

Ben Revere singled with one out in the 10th against Rauch (0-1), and Utley tripled into the right-field corner. Michael Young drove in another run with an infield single.

Phillippe Aumont (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth and Jonathan Papelbon finished for his second save.

Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton was a late scratch with a sore left shoulder.

The crowd of 17,923 was up from 13,810 on Wednesday, a record low for the ballpark that opened last year.

DIAMONDBACKS 3, DODGERS 0

PHOENIX — Patrick Corbin gave up three hits in six innings as Arizona beat Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kershaw (2-1) struck out nine, leaving him one shy of 1,000 for his career, but left trailing 1-0 after the Diamondbacks loaded the bases with one out in the eighth inning. Shawn Tolleson walked both batters he faced to bring in two runs.

Corbin (2-0) struck out four, walked three and hit a batter with a pitch. Brad Ziegler and David Hernandez each pitched a scoreless inning before J.J. Putz finished for his second save.

Arizona took a 1-0 lead in the fourth, the first run allowed by Kershaw in 20 innings to start the season. The Dodgers dropped the series opener a night after their bench-clearing brawl in San Diego resulted in an injury that will sideline pitcher Zack Greinke (broken collarbone) for eight weeks.