Jorge Soler homered and added an RBI single, Alex Gordon had a two-run single and the visiting Kansas City Royals defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 on Sunday afternoon.

Justin Smoak hit two home runs for the Blue Jays, who won the first two games of the four-game series that ends Monday afternoon.

Kansas City starter Brad Keller (4-9) allowed six runs, eight hits and two walks in five innings. It was his first win since May 22, a span of six winless starts with four losses.

Ian Kennedy pitched around a ninth-inning walk to earn his 11th save.

Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez (3-11), still winless since April 27, failed to hold a 5-1 lead, allowing six runs, seven hits and four walks in three-plus innings. He has lost 10 of 12 starts during that span.

The Royals scored once in the second when Cheslor Cuthbert walked and scored on Lucas Duda's double.

The Blue Jays scored five in the bottom of the second. Rowdy Tellez singled, Freddy Galvis walked and Luke Maile tripled to right field when Soler apparently lost the ball in the sun. Eric Sogard hit an RBI single and Smoak homered.

The Royals took a 6-5 lead in a five-run third. Sanchez walked Humberto Arteaga and Whit Merrifield to start the inning, Nicky Lopez singled to load the bases. Alex Gordon hit a two-run single and Hunter Dozier and Soler followed with RBI singles. Another run scored with Cuthbert grounded into a double play.

Nick Kingham replaced Sanchez with two on and none on with two out in the fourth and worked out of the inning, but allowed Soler's 22nd homer this season in the fifth.

Smoak hit his 14th homer this season in the bottom of the fifth. It was his 10th career multi-homer game.

Joe Biagini replaced Kingham after Dozier's one-out double in the seventh and allowed one walk in 1 2/3 innings.

Kevin McCarthy replaced Keller in the sixth and pitched two perfect innings. Jake Diekman had a perfect eighth for the Royals.

Derek Law allowed Lopez's leadoff double to open the ninth. Lopez was safe at third on Gordon's grounder to shortstop, just beating the throw by Galvis. The inning ended when Lopez was out at home after Soler struck out.

--Field Level Media