TORONTO (AP) — After a big win over the Blue Jays, it was slow jam time in the Kansas City Royals clubhouse. Seated around a table in the middle of the room, Kendrys Morales and Danny Duffy gave a spirited sing-along to Whitney Houston’s `I Will Always Love You.”

Maybe they were dedicating it to new teammate Ben Zobrist.

Zobrist hit solo home runs from both sides of the plate, Eric Hosmer singled home the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Royals beat Toronto 7-6 on Saturday to snap a three-game losing streak.

“We had to have this one today,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We had to.”

Zobrist, who went 3 for 4 and scored three runs, homered from the right side in the first and doubled and scored in the sixth.

“It feels incredible,” Zobrist said. “You try and put good swings on the ball from both sides of the plate when you have to switch around during the game but it’s tough.”

Yordano Ventura (6-7) gave up five runs and six hits in seven innings to win back-to-back starts for the first time since April.

“I thought he threw the ball great,” Yost said. “These guys are hotter than heck and their power is amazing.”

Wade Davis worked the eighth and Greg Holland pitched around a walk and a single for his 23rd save. Josh Donaldson grounded out to end it, stranding the tying run at third as Toronto fell to 11-23 in one-run games.

Facing new Blue Jays reliever Mark Lowe, Zobrist turned around to the left side and tied it at 5 with a drive to right. Lorenzo Cain doubled and scored on Hosmer’s base hit, Kendrys Morales singled Hosmer to third and Salvador Perez hit a sacrifice fly.

Lowe (0-2) was charged with three runs after allowing just four in 34 prior appearances this season.

“That’s not going to make or break his career in Toronto,” manager John Gibbons said of Lowe’s difficult debut.

Jose Bautista hit two solo homers and Josh Donaldson added a two-run drive, but Toronto’s winning streak ended at three.

Bautista connected off Davis in the eighth, the first home run allowed by the Royals reliever in 125 2/3 innings. Davis hadn’t given up a homer since Washington’s Ian Desmond hit one off him on Aug. 24, 2013, Davis’ most recent start.

“Wade is the best setup man in the game,” Yost said. “That’s not even arguable. He really does a great job of limiting the extra base hits.”

Edwin Encarnacion almost went back-to-back with Bautista, but his drive to center was caught on the warning track.

Toronto’s Mark Buehrle set down 15 of 16 following Zobrist’s one-out drive in the first.

Ventura started even stronger, retiring the first 11 batters he faced. That streak ended when the Blue Jays strung together four straight singles in the fourth, including RBI hits by Justin Smoak and Dioner Navarro.

Toronto made it 5-1 in the fifth on back-to-back home runs by Donaldson, a two-run drive into the second deck, and Bautista. It was the sixth time this season the Blue Jays have hit consecutive home runs.

Kansas City answered in the sixth when Buehrle’s throwing error opened the door for a three-run rally. Hosmer extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a two-run single and Kendrys Morales drove in the third run with a base hit to right.

A four-time Gold Glove winner, Buehrle said he was embarrassed by his error.

“It kind of unfolded after that,” he said.

Buehrle allowed four runs and five hits in seven innings.

The Blue Jays capped a busy week of trade deadline activity with a flurry or roster moves before the game, adding Lowe and outfielder Ben Revere, acquired Friday from Seattle and Philadelphia.

Toronto also recalled infielder Munenori Kawasaki from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned right-hander Ryan Tepera to Buffalo. Infielder Danny Valencia and outfielder Eqezuiel Carrera were designated for assignment.

LEFT AND RIGHT

Before Zobrist, Wilson Betemit was the previous Royals player to homer from both sides of the plate, doing it June 10, 2010 at Minnesota.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Davis returned after sitting out Friday’s loss with a sore back.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez (10-5, 3.21 ERA) seeks his third straight victory as he faces Toronto for the second time this season. He gave up four runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Blue Jays on July 12, but only run one was earned.

Blue Jays: RHP R.A. Dickey (5-10, 4.27 ERA) will pitch on three days of rest in spot left vacant when LHP Felix Doubront was designated for assignment. Dickey moved up so new LHP David Price could get an extra day before his Toronto debut Monday against Minnesota.

— Associated Press —

TORONTO (AP) — David Price was pleased with the popcorn waiting in his locker when he finally arrived in Toronto.

Hours later, Josh Donaldson gave Price something even better: a dramatic win for his new team.

Donaldson singled home Troy Tulowitzki in the 11th inning, and the new-look Blue Jays rallied to beat Kansas City 7-6 on Friday night and hand Johnny Cueto a no-decision in his Royals debut.

After acquiring Tulowitzki and reliever LaTroy Hawkins from Colorado and Price from Detroit, the Blue Jays obtained right-hander Mark Lowe from Seattle and outfielder Ben Revere from Philadelphia ahead of Friday’s trade deadline.

“This organization definitely put their best foot forward at the trade deadline, and you’ve got to love seeing that,” Price said in a postgame news conference.

Tulowitzki played a key role in the win. He singled with one out in the 11th and advanced on a balk by Franklin Morales (3-1).

Donaldson followed with a single to left-center, giving Toronto its third straight win and sending the AL champion Royals to their third consecutive loss.

“He left me a pitch over the middle of the plate, what I was kind of waiting for the entire time,” Donaldson said. “I didn’t miss it.”

Donaldson, mobbed at first base after his winning hit, went 3-for-4 with a walk and four RBIs. Liam Hendriks (3-0) pitched one inning for the win.

Price was delayed by a flat tire on his way to Toronto, scuttling plans for an afternoon news conference. The left-hander said he was on Interstate 94 near Chesterfield, Michigan, when his right rear tire blew.

“I got the extra tire put on and the guy was like, ‘Where are you headed?'” Price said. “I was like ‘I’m going to Toronto,’ and he was like ‘You can’t make it there on this tire.’ I went to Discount Tires, they didn’t have a tire to fit my back tire and then I just had to sit in a Target parking lot and wait for the tow truck to come and wait for my ride to arrive.”

Price, who makes no secret of his taste for the popcorn at Rogers Centre, had six bags waiting for him in his locker.

“I think some guys might have taken some before I got here but I was completely OK with that,” he said. “This is the best popcorn I’ve ever had.”

Cueto, obtained from Cincinnati last Sunday for three minor league pitchers, gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

“I thought he threw the ball great,” manager Ned Yost said.

Outfielder Lorenzo Cain said Cueto was “locked in.”

“He did a great job his first start here,” Cain said. “Unfortunately we didn’t hold the lead there at the end.”

Kansas City took a 3-0 lead off Drew Hutchison in the first on Kendrys Morales’ RBI double and Ben Zobrist’s two-run single. Morales managed to evade Russell Martin’s tag at home plate, stepping over the fallen catcher.

Donaldson hit a two-run double in the third, and Toronto tied it in the fourth on Kevin Pillar’s RBI single.

Kansas City went ahead 5-3 in the fifth. Hutchison left after Cain’s leadoff single and Aaron Loup came on to face Eric Hosmer, who hit a slow grounder to third. Donaldson’s errant throw to first went down the right-field line, allowing Cain to score and advancing Hosmer to third. He scored on Morales’ sacrifice fly off Bo Schultz.

ROTATION SHUFFLE

The Royals are moving RHP Chris Young from the rotation to the bullpen and will use Monday’s off day to skip the fifth starter’s spot. RHP Jeremy Guthrie, who has lost back-to-back starts, allowing 11 earned runs in 12⅓ innings, will keep his spot in the rotation. Yost said the Royals would continue to evaluate the rotation from week to week.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Wade Davis (back) was unavailable. Yost said Davis is day-to-day.

Blue Jays: INF Edwin Encarnacion (left middle finger) returned to the lineup at DH after missing the previous two games. … 2B Devon Travis (left shoulder) was placed on the 15-day disabled list to make room for Price.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura (5-7, 4.86 ERA) tries to win back-to-back starts for the first time since his opening two outings of the season when he faces the Blue Jays for the first time this year. After a one-day demotion to Triple-A, Ventura beat Houston in his most recent start, allowing one run and six hits in seven innings.

Blue Jays: LHP Mark Buehrle (11-5, 3.29 ERA) had worked at least six innings and allowed two runs or fewer in nine straight starts before giving up three runs over 5⅔ innings in Sunday’s loss at Seattle. He is 26-12 with a 3.53 ERA in 53 career starts against the Royals.

— Associated Press —

TORONTO (AP) — Dioner Navarro is about to be reunited with an old teammate, and he’s excited about what they might achieve together.

Navarro hit a two-run home run, Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson added solo shots and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 on Thursday night, hours after landing former Cy Young Award winner David Price in a deal with Detroit.

Navarro and Price played together for three seasons in Tampa Bay, reaching the World Series in 2008, Price’s rookie campaign.

“He knows what it takes,” Navarro said of Price. “He’s been doing it for a long time. And I think he’s going to do nothing but good things for us.”

Price was not with the Blue Jays on Thursday but is expected to join them Friday. Toronto has not said when Price will make his first start but Sunday is a possibility.

The left-hander is the second major acquisition of the week for the Blue Jays, who landed shortstop Troy Tulowitzki on Tuesday.

“I thought even before we made the moves we were a good team and we just got better,” Toronto starter Marco Estrada said.

Estrada (8-6) allowed two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings. Estrada left after Lorenzo Cain’s two-out single in the sixth ended his run of 15 straight outs. Brett Cecil came on and retired Eric Hosmer.

LaTroy Hawkins pitched the seventh, Aaron Sanchez worked the eighth and Roberto Osuna finished for his sixth save.

The Blue Jays have homered in 12 consecutive games since the All-Star break, their longest streak of the season.

“That’s what we do best,” manager John Gibbons said.

Kansas City, which lost 12-1 at Cleveland on Wednesday, allowed three homers in consecutive games for the first time this season.

“You make a mistake and they can hammer it a long way,” Royals manager Ned Yost said of the Blue Jays. “These guys are really good.”

Kendrys Morales put the Royals in front with a two-run double in the first inning but Toronto answered in the bottom half on Jose Bautista’s sacrifice fly.

Kevin Pillar reached on a bloop single to begin the second and Navarro followed with a drive to left off Kansas City left-hander Danny Duffy.

Martin extended the lead with a one-out drive in the third and Donaldson made it 5-2 with a second-deck blast in the fourth, his team-high 25th.

Duffy (4-5) hadn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his previous four starts but couldn’t extend that streak against Toronto, which leads the majors in runs. Duffy allowed five runs and six hits in six innings, losing for the first time since June 30 at Houston.

“I just didn’t make pitches when I needed to,” said Duffy, who allowed three homers for the first time in his career. “They capitalized excellently on every single one of my mistakes.”

Ben Zobrist made his debut with the Royals, batting sixth and starting in left field. Zobrist, who was acquired from Oakland on Tuesday, went 0 for 4, grounding out to end the game.

ORLANDO TO OMAHA

Brazilian rookie OF Paulo Orlando was optioned to Triple-A Omaha to make room for Zobrist.

YOUR NUMBER IS UP

Royals first base coach Rusty Kuntz gave up his number 18 to Zobrist, switching to 81. Kuntz also surrendered 18 last season when the Royals traded for Raul Ibanez. Toronto’s Justin Smoak switched from 14 to 13 so Price can wear his preferred number.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Alex Gordon (left groin) hit off the tee one day ahead of schedule. Gordon took 20 swings and will do the same Friday.

Blue Jays: 1B Edwin Encarnacion (left middle finger) did not start but was available to pinch-hit. … 2B Devon Travis (left shoulder) was not available after getting a cortisone shot Wednesday.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Johnny Cueto (7-6, 2.62 ERA) makes his Kansas City debut Friday. Cueto is 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two previous starts against Toronto.

Blue Jays: RHP Drew Hutchison (9-2, 5.42 ERA) has pitched six innings just once in his past eight outings. He’s 7-1 with a 2.21 ERA in nine home starts.

— Associated Press —