KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Shea Hillenbrand and Eric Hinske each hit two-run doubles in a six-run fifth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 9-4 on Saturday night.

The Blue Jays sent 10 men to the plate in the fifth and took advantage of three walks, Donnie Murphy’s error and a wild pitch to break open the game. The Blue Jays have scored an American League-high 126 runs in July.

Dave Bush (1-5), just recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, earned his first victory since Oct. 1. The right-hander was 0-5 in 10 starts to begin the season with Toronto before being sent to the minors on May 29.

Frank Catalanotto walked and Vernon Wells doubled to start the fifth against Kyle Snyder, who was making his first big league start since Aug. 5, 2003. Hillenbrand’s double to left scored both to give Toronto a 5-2 lead.

Snyder (0-1) was replaced by Mike Wood, who walked Aaron Hill. Gregg Zaun reached on Murphy’s fielding error, which allowed Hillenbrand, who went to third on a wild pitch, to score. Alex Rios walked to load the bases before Hinske’s two-run double off the right-field bullpen gate. Orlando Hudson’s sacrifice fly scored Rios with the final run of the inning.

Bush held the Royals to three runs and eight hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out two.

John Buck’s single in the second scored Angel Berroa and Mark Teahen to give the Royals a 2-1 lead.

The Blue Jays regained the lead in the third on Catalanotto’s two-run triple. Wells’ sacrifice fly in the first scored Reed Johnson, giving him an AL-leading 22 RBIs in July.

Snyder, who did not pitch last season after having shoulder surgery, allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks in four-plus innings.

Murphy’s groundout in the seventh scored Teahen, who had doubled and stopped at third on Buck’s single.

Notes: Royals DH Mike Sweeney was unavailable to play because of immobility in his left wrist after being hit by a pitch on Friday. Sweeney is listed as day-to-day with a bruise. … Blue Jays LHP Ted Lilly, who starts on Sunday, is 1-6 with a 7.28 ERA in eight road starts. … Royals CF David DeJesus went 0-for-5, snapping his 13-game hitting streak.

AP-ES-07-23-05 2151EDT


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