Butler, Francis Lead Royals Past Toronto

Royals at Toronto 8-25 — Kansas City Royals Salvador Perez (L) scores as Toronto Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia waits for throw in the third inning of their American League MLB baseball game in Toronto. (Photo/Fred Thornhill, REUTERS)

TORONTO (AP) – Jeff Francis pitched six-plus innings to win for the first time since July 29, Melky Cabrera homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-6 on Thursday night.

Billy Butler went 4 for 5 with two RBIs and scored twice as the Royals won their first series since taking two of three against Baltimore in early August. It wasKansas City’s first series victory in Toronto since August 2002.

Butler doubled and scored in the fourth, singled in both the sixth and seventh and doubled home a pair of runs off reliever Shawn Camp in the eighth. He went 8 for 15 with five extra-base hits to help the Royals win twice in the three-game series.

The Royals open a three-game series in Cleveland Friday with Royals pre-game at 5:30pm on KAYS (1400-AM).