It was a rough day for Danny Duffy. Fortunately for the Kansas City Royals, Will Smith was terrific.

Smith replaced Duffy in the fourth inning and had a career-high eight strikeouts in a dominant relief performance, helping Kansas City beat the Seattle Mariners 3-1 on Monday.

Smith (2-1) allowed one hit in 4 1-3 innings. He finished with the most strikeouts by a Royals reliever since Tom Gordon struck out eight over 4 2-3 innings against Detroit on July 9, 1993.

”Will was phenomenal, outstanding, great,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. ”Man, what a job he did. It was evident from some of the swings they were taking they just had a real hard time picking up the ball. His pitches had action, deception and location.”

While Smith shined, Seattle ace Felix Hernandez lost his fourth consecutive start. The ace right-hander allowed three runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings.

Hernandez departed after his back cramped up while he was pitching to Alex Gordon.

”The second pitch to Gordon I felt it cramping,” Hernandez said. ”It’s just a cramp. It’ll be OK.”

Mariners manager Eric Wedge said trainer Rick Griffin told him he did not think it was serious.

Five of Smith’s strikeouts took only three pitches. Kyle Seager, who had three of the Mariners’ seven hits, doubled off Smith with two out in the seventh, but it was a fly ball that center fielder Jarrod Dyson lost in the sun.

”The slider was working and the curveball, too,” Smith said. ”It’s one of those days where everything was clicking. I just kept putting zeros up.”

Greg Holland pitched a one-hit ninth for his 37th save in 39 opportunities.

The Royals scored two runs in the fifth to open a 3-1 lead. Dyson led off with an infield single and advanced to third on Alcides Escobar’s hit-and-run single to right. Dyson scored on a wild pitch, and Escobar came home Emilio Bonifacio’s sacrifice fly.

”Speed can do a lot,” Dyson said.

Hernandez (12-9), who has a 7.84 ERA in his losing streak, struck out Mike Moustakas in the sixth to reach 200 strikeouts for the fifth straight season.

Duffy, who had elbow surgery last year, departed after 3 2-3 innings and 91 pitches. He was charged with one run and five hits with four walks and four strikeouts.

”I didn’t have it today,” Duffy said.

Seattle got its run when Brad Miller drove in Abraham Almonte with a two-out triple in the fourth.

The Royals tied it on consecutive singles by Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler and Moustakas in the bottom half.

”It was tough luck,” Hernandez said. ”A lot of ground balls to the outfield, it happens. I commanded the fastball better.”

Duffy threw 68 pitches in the first three innings and stranded six runners. He struck out Kendrys Morales and Justin Smoak swinging to end the first with two runners on.

Michael Saunders led off the second with a bunt single and Duffy walked Mike Zunino on nine pitches before retiring the next three batters.

The Mariners went 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners.

— Associated Press —

The Kansas City Royals won’t have much hope in the wild-card race without a strong September from veteran pitcher James Shields.

One game into the regular season’s final month, he’s off to an excellent start.

Shields pitched seven innings of three-hit ball to win his fourth straight decision, Eric Hosmer drove in two runs and the Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-0 on Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep.

”It just seems like he’s getting stronger and stronger as the year goes on,” manager Ned Yost said of Shields, who went 4-1 in August.

The Royals, who entered play 6 1/2 games behind Tampa Bay in the race for the second AL wild-card berth, won for the sixth time in eight games.

”We’re fighting right now,” Shields said. ”Today was a big game.”

Twelve of Kansas City’s final 26 games are against Cleveland and Detroit, the two teams ahead of them in the AL Central.

Shields, who played on the Tampa Bay team that overturned a nine-game deficit in the final month to reach the 2011 playoffs, understands that ”anything can happen.”

”We’ve got a lot of games against Detroit, we’ve got a lot of games against Cleveland left,” Shields said. ”We’ve got some room to catch up.”

Outfielder Jarrod Dyson said the Royals remain confident that a postseason spot is within their grasp.

”We’re still pushing for it,” Dyson said. ”We’re not going to let up. We’re going to give it all we’ve got.”

Hosmer had two hits and two RBIs. It was his 51st multihit game of the season, tying him with five other players for the major league lead.

Former Blue Jays infielder Emilio Bonifacio had two hits, scored twice and stole two bases for the Royals. He’s 11 for 11 in stolen base attempts since joining Kansas City on Aug. 14.

Shields (10-8) improved to 4-0 with a 1.53 ERA in his past five starts. The right-hander walked one and matched a season-high with nine strikeouts.

”I was mixing my pitches up as well as I can and trying to keep them off balance,” Shields said.

In shutting down the Blue Jays, Shields also extended his recent run of road success. He’s 7-0 with a 1.71 ERA in his past eight starts away from home, and 8-3 with a 2.11 ERA in 16 total road outings.

”He’s always tough,” Toronto shortstop Jose Reyes said of Shields. ”He’s one of the best pitchers in the game. When his team scores some runs early, he’s going to get tougher and tougher.”

Luke Hochevar worked the eighth and Greg Holland finished as the Royals recorded their 10th shutout of the season.

Shields set down the first 11 batters in order before Edwin Encarnacion singled in the fourth. Adam Lind followed with a walk but Brett Lawrie grounded out.

Kansas City took the lead in the first when Bonifacio walked, stole second, went to third on catcher J.P. Arencibia’s throwing error and scored on Eric Hosmer’s grounder.

The Royals benefited from an interference call in a four-run, bat-around third. Dyson led off with a single and stole second, but appeared to be caught in a rundown after trying to advance on Alcides Escobar’s grounder. But Reyes was called for interference after Dyson ran into him.

”I wasn’t going to stop right there and just let him tag me because he was in my way,” Dyson said.

Even though Dyson was initially ruled out, Reyes said he was waiting for another ump to overturn the call.

”Kind of a tough day,” Reyes said. ”I didn’t mean to do that.”

The call putting runners at the corners for Alex Gordon, who hit an RBI single. Bonifacio followed with an RBI single and stole second before Hosmer hit a two-run single to right.

”It was a play that helped us break that inning open a little bit,” Yost said of Dyson’s escape. ”It worked out great.”

Rajai Davis hit a one-out triple in the fifth but Shields fanned Anthony Gose and Kevin Pillar to end the threat.

Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ (3-5) lost his third straight start, allowing five runs, three earned, and six hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out three.

”He was kind of in and out of the zone a little bit,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. ”It’s a consistency thing.”

Toronto second baseman Ryan Goins went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts, snapping an eight-game hitting streak to start his career.

— Associated Press —

Aaron Crow lost command of the strike zone at the worst possible time for the Kansas City Royals.

Crow issued consecutive bases-loaded walks during Toronto’s three-run eighth inning, sending the Royals to a 4-2 loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday.

”Throwing eight straight balls, it’s a terrible way to lose a game,” Crow said.

The Royals, who trailed Tampa Bay by 6 1/2 games for the second AL wild-card slot at the beginning of the day, lost their second straight following a five-game winning streak.

Kansas City failed to capitalize on a strong start by right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, who allowed one run and eight hits in seven innings.

”Tremendous game from him,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. ”He was still strong going into the eighth inning.”

Rather than stick with Guthrie, who was at 92 pitches, Yost turned it over to his relief corps, who came in with an AL-best 2.56 ERA and had allowed just one run in their past 14 2-3 innings.

”My mindset is, ‘OK, we’ve got a one-run lead, we’ve got the best bullpen in the American League, let’s get three outs and get to (closer Greg Holland),”’ Yost said. ”It just didn’t work out, we couldn’t get it done.”

Instead, the Blue Jays batted around while scoring three unearned runs against four relievers. Kansas City shortstop Alcides Escobar helped the Blue Jays with a key error.

Pinch hitter Munenori Kawasaki led off with a single against Kelvin Herrera (5-7), and went to second on a bloop hit by Jose Reyes. Will Smith came on to face Ryan Goins, who hit a potential double-play grounder that Escobar couldn’t handle, allowing Kawasaki to score from second.

Escobar said his line of sight was blocked by Kawasaki on the crucial play.

”I make that play all the time,” Escobar said. ”I didn’t see the ball, that’s why I missed that. The guy blocked me.”

Edwin Encarnacion walked to load the bases and Crow came on to face pinch hitter Mark DeRosa, who struck out on three pitches. Brett Lawrie and Rajai Davis each followed with four-pitch walks, giving the Blue Jays a 4-2 lead.

”We can’t be coming in and doing that at this time of year,” Yost said. ”We’ve got to command the ball a little better in these crucial situations. Aaron does, anyway.”

Upset at the ball four call to Davis, Yost was ejected for arguing with plate umpire Will Little when he came out to replace Crow with Tim Collins, who retired pinch hitter J.P. Arencibia to end the inning.

”I’d just seen enough,” Yost said. ”You don’t miss a pitch in a crucial situation like that. If he throws a ball, OK. But I think the replay will show it was definitely a strike.”

Yost, who was ejected for the first time this season, also argued with Little over a call at first base in Friday’s 3-2 loss.

The late rally made a winner of knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (11-12), who allowed two runs and seven hits in eight innings.

”I changed speeds quite a bit today,” Dickey said. ”I was able to keep the slower knuckleball down and get some outs with it. Anytime you can add and subtract speed in the strike zone, you’re going to have a better chance of your opponent mis-hitting balls.”

Casey Janssen finished for his 26th save in 28 chances, with pinch runner Chris Getz thrown out trying to steal second for the final out.

Kansas City’s Eric Hosmer went 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI in his 50th multihit game of the season. Among AL players, only Mike Trout and Adrian Beltre have more.

Royals outfielder Alex Gordon had two assists, throwing out Goins at third in the first and getting Josh Thole at second in the seventh. Gordon boosted his major league-leading total to 14. It’s the fifth time he’s had two assists in a game.

Kansas City opened the scoring in the second. Salvador Perez drew a one-out walk, moved up on Jarrod Dyson’s single and scored on a base hit by Escobar.

The Royals made it 2-0 in the third when former Blue Jays infielder Emilio Bonifacio led off with a triple and scored on Hosmer’s single through the left side.

The Blue Jays ran into another out on the bases in the third when Reyes was thrown by right fielder David Lough as he tried to stretch a single into a double. Escobar made a diving tag to retire Reyes for the second out.

Toronto broke through against Guthrie in the seventh when Rajai Davis hit a two-out double and scored on Josh Thole’s single. The inning ended when Gordon threw out Thole trying to stretch his hit into a double.

”We’re lucky that didn’t come back to bite us,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.

— Associated Press —