KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For the second consecutive night and the third time in their past six games, the Kansas City Royals were held without a run.
Two hits by outfielder Kyle Isbel constituted the bulk of the offense as the Royals fell 7-0 to the Toronto Blue Jays in front of an announced 15,103 in the second game of a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Royals have now lost 15 of 18 and will try to avoid being swept when they play the series finale on Wednesday afternoon.
Blue Jays starting pitcher Alek Manoah (7-1) pitched six scoreless innings and allowed six hits and three walks. He also struck out four.
The Royals (17-37) went 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position, and they left multiple runners on base in both the fifth and sixth innings against Manoah.
Isbel was the lone Royal with two hits (2 for 3), while Carlos Santana reached base three times (one hit, two walks). Andrew Benintendi, Salvador Perez, and Emmanuel Rivera had one hit apiece for the Royals. They did not have an extra-base hit.
Meanwhile, Royals starting pitcher Brad Keller (1-7) gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out four.
Keller has allowed three earned runs or fewer in seven of his team-leading 11 starts this season. Yet he’s still looking for his second win of the season. He has lost his last four starts.
Royals relievers allowed four runs in the final three innings. The Blue Jays improved to 33-22.
