KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Runelvys Hernandez, pitching while appealing a 10-game suspension, pitched six solid innings to earn his third straight win as the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 on Friday night.

Hernandez was suspended Thursday by Major League Baseball for his role in last Sunday’s bench-clearing brawl in a game between the Royals and Tigers. Hernandez hit Carlos Guillen in the head with a pitch, leading to the melee.

Hernandez (8-9) gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings. The right-hander, who missed all of last season after having elbow surgery, is 6-2 in his past eight starts.

Royals All-Star Mike Sweeney was taken to a hospital for X-rays after he was hit in the left hand by a pitch in the first inning. There was no further update on his condition.

Andrew Sisco, Jeremy Affeldt and Mike MacDougal shut out the Blue Jays over the final three innings, with MacDougal pitching the ninth for his 14th save in 16 opportunities.

Blue Jays starter Pete Walker (3-3), who was looking for his first win since June 22, was pulled after 3 1-3 innings. He gave up five runs on four hits, three walks and a hit batter.

The Royals scored three runs in the first. David DeJesus led off with a single to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 13 games, Terrence Long walked and Walker beaned Sweeney to load the bases with none out.

Matt Stairs doubled to right, scoring DeJesus and Long. Emil Brown’s groundout scored Sweeney.

John Buck hit his first career triple in the second and scored on DeJesus’ sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.

Vernon Wells hit his career 100th career home run in the Blue Jays’ three-run third, a shot into the left-field stands with Frank Catalanotto aboard. Orlando Hudson doubled and scored on Catalanotto’s single for the first run.

Wells leads the American League with 21 RBIs in July. That is also Wells’ career high for a month, with eight games still remaining in July.

Buck’s single in the fourth scored Mark Teahen, who led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on Ruben Gotay’s walk. Scott Downs replaced Walker and pitched three scoreless innings.

Notes: 1B Eric Hinske converted an unassisted double play in the fourth inning, the 21st consecutive game the Blue Jays have turned a double play. They also turned double plays in the seventh and eighth innings. … The temperature was 98 degrees for the first pitch. The last time the temperature was that high for a Kauffman Stadium game was Aug. 17, 2003. … Royals LHP Brian Anderson had elbow ligament replacement surgery on Thursday and is out for nine to 12 months.

AP-ES-07-22-05 2255EDT

Copy the Story Link