First AL ticket punched as Jays earn playoff spot

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Andres Gimenez drove successful 2 runs apiece arsenic the Toronto Blue Jays bushed the Kansas City Royals 8-5 Sunday and clinched a playoff berth.

Toronto is the archetypal squad successful the American League to unafraid a spot successful the playoffs, returning to the postseason for the archetypal clip since 2023, and improved its AL-best and AL East-leading grounds to 90-66.

The Blue Jays scored 3 runs successful the 2nd inning connected run-scoring hits by Gimenez, Tyler Heineman and George Springer. Guerrero deed a two-run treble successful the 5th and Addison Barger followed with an RBI treble to springiness Toronto a 6-2 lead.

After the Royals chopped their shortage to 6-5, Ernie Clement and Gimenez had RBI hits successful the eighth to widen Toronto's pb to 8-5.

Toronto starter Trey Yesavage worked 4 innings, allowing 4 runs connected 5 hits portion walking 3 and striking retired two. Seranthony Dominguez (4-4) pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win, and Jeff Hoffman recorded his 32nd prevention of the season.

Carter Jensen had a two-run treble successful the 4th inning, Maikel Garcia and Salvador Perez deed consecutive run-scoring singles successful the 5th and Randal Grichuk picked up an RBI successful the sixth to implicit Kansas City's scoring.

Michael Wacha (9-13) gave up six earned runs connected 8 hits successful 5 innings with 1 locomotion and 4 strikeouts.

Toronto snapped a four-game skid. The Blue Jays inactive power their ain destiny arsenic acold arsenic their decorativeness successful the AL.