TORONTO (AP) — Teoscar Hernandez’s hot bat is going to force the Blue Jays into a tough decision sometime soon.

Hernandez had four hits, including a two-run home run, Curtis Granderson hit his ninth career grand slam and the Blue Jays routed Kansas City 15-5 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep of the Royals, losers of eight straight.

Hernandez singled and scored in the first, homered in the third, flied out in the fourth, singled in the sixth and hit a two-run triple in the seventh. It was the first four-hit game of his career.

“He can’t play any better,” manager John Gibbons said.

Needing a double for the cycle, Hernandez struck out swinging in the eighth against reliever Brian Flynn.

“I got excited, too much I think, and that’s what made me strike out,” Hernandez said. “I wanted it.”

Granderson’s slam, which came off Justin Grimm, was the big blow in a six-run eighth. Toronto set season highs with 15 runs and 15 hits.

Yangervis Solarte also homered for the Blue Jays, a solo shot in the third. Solarte had two hits and a walk and scored each time he reached base.

Toronto (12-5) is off to its best start since 2009.

“We’re playing good baseball,” Gibbons said. “We’re doing everything well. You ride that.”

The question is whether they’ll ride Hernandez, whose spot in the lineup could be in jeopardy when designated hitter Kendrys Morales returns from a right hamstring injury Friday.

“It’s not going to be an easy decision whatever we choose to do, but we’ll have to make one,” Gibbons said.

Acquired from Houston last July, Hernandez has nine home runs in 31 games with Toronto, including eight last September.

“He’s really talented,” Kansas City right-hander Ian Kennedy said of Hernandez. “Having (Justin) Smoak behind him, that helps, too.”

J.A. Happ (3-1) allowed five hits and four runs in six innings to win his third straight start as the Blue Jays won their fourth straight and eighth of nine.

After losing its first two home games of the season, Toronto has won seven of eight at Rogers Centre. The Jays have outscored opponents 67-40 in 10 home games.

Toronto has won 12 of its past 15 home meetings with Kansas City.

Whit Merrifield had a two-run homer and Jorge Soler hit a solo blast, but the Royals’ April slide continued. Kansas City’s skid is its longest since a nine-game slump last April.

“Pretty discouraged,” Kennedy said when asked to sum up the team’s mood. “It’s not the start we all want.”

Kansas City entered with the worst bullpen ERA in the majors at 6.75, and saw that spike to 7.94 after four relievers allowed nine runs in three innings.

“It definitely hasn’t been very pretty,” manager Ned Yost said. “I think (GM Dayton Moore) and I will talk tomorrow.”

Hernandez and Solarte connected off Kennedy (1-2), who allowed six runs, four earned, and eight hits in five innings.

LOOK OUT BELOW!

Two days after Monday’s series opener was canceled when chunks of ice falling off the nearby CN Tower punctured holes in the retractable roof at Rogers Centre, roads, walkways and entrance gates on the east side of the stadium remained blocked by police.

MR. VERSATILITY

Toronto’s Russell Martin began the game at catcher but played the final four innings at third base after Luke Maile pinch-hit for second baseman Gift Ngoepe in the fifth. Solarte moved from third to second.

FAST START

Maile has more RBI in six games this season (8) than he had in 46 games last season (7).

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Clay Buchholz made his first start at Double-A San Antonio Tuesday, allowing two hits in 4 2/3 shutout innings. Buchholz made just two starts with Philadelphia last season before undergoing elbow surgery. … Buchholz worked with catcher Salvador Perez, who is rehabbing a sprained left knee. It was Perez’s final game at Double-A before advancing to Triple-A Omaha.

Blue Jays: 3B Josh Donaldson (right shoulder) will not be ready to come off the disabled list when he is eligible to return Saturday, Gibbons said. Donaldson is working out at Toronto’s minor league complex in Dunedin, Florida.

UP NEXT

Royals: Kansas City is off Thursday before a doubleheader at Detroit Friday, its second in four days. RHP Jakob Junis (2-1, 1.93 ERA) starts Game 1 against Detroit RHP Michael Fulmer (1-2, 3.86). RHP Jason Hammel (0-1, 3.86) starts Game 2 for the Royals against LHP Daniel Norris (0-1, 7.11).

Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (1-1, 3.86) starts as the Blue Jays begin a four-game series at the Yankees. LHP CC Sabathia (0-0, 4.00) starts for New York.

— Associated Press —

TORONTO (AP) — Luke Maile singled down the right-field line with the bases loaded in the 10th inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays walked off with a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night to sweep a rare doubleheader at Rogers Centre.

Toronto won the opener 11-3 and has swept all three doubleheaders at its retractable-roof stadium, which opened in 1989.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out in the tenth. Kevin Pillar singled off Brian Flynn (0-1) before Aledmys Diaz walked and Randal Grichuk was hit by a pitch.

Maile then drove the second pitch he saw from Flynn down the right-field line, driving in his third run of the game and handing the Royals their seventh straight loss. Tyler Clippard (2-0) worked a scoreless 10th for his 50th career victory.

Danny Duffy allowed two hits in six scoreless innings, striking out eight in his longest outing of the season, before Toronto rallied off Kansas City’s bullpen.

After Justin Grimm walked the bases loaded to open the seventh, Maile drove a pitch from Brad Keller down the right-field line to score two runs. Pinch-hitter Devon Travis tied the game at 3 with an infield single, a grounder that third baseman Mike Moustakas couldn’t get out of his glove in time.

Steve Pearce singled up the middle to score Maile and put the Blue Jays ahead.

The Royals tied it on Alcides Escobar’s homer in the eighth, his first this season.

Toronto had runners at second and third with one out in the ninth, but Kevin McCarthy struck out Curtis Granderson and Justin Smoak in succession to end the threat.

Making his first start of the season, Joe Biagini allowed three runs on six hits, striking out four, in 5 2/3 innings. He plunked Lucas Duda to force in a run in the first.

Abraham Almonte homered in the sixth, the first home run this season from a Royals player other than Moustakas or Duda.

In the first game, Yangervis Solarte homered and drove in four runs and Grichuk went deep for the second time this season.

Solarte’s third homer of the season was a two-run shot off Erik Skoglund (0-2) into the second deck in the first inning.

Jaime Garcia (2-0) allowed back-to-back homers by Moustakas and Duda in the third. He gave up three runs on eight hits in five innings, walking one and striking out five.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: C Russell Martin and 2B Devon Travis started the opener but sat out the nightcap, the only two changes Toronto made to its lineup. … DH Kendrys Morales (right hamstring) is not expected to require a rehab assignment before rejoining the team. Morales went on the disabled list April 10.

ICED OUT

The Blue Jays were rained out twice in Cleveland over the weekend and then faced the first streak of three consecutive postponements in franchise history after chunks of ice fell from the adjacent CN Tower, puncturing several holes in the Rogers Centre roof. The biggest hole, over right field, was roughly 3 feet by 5 feet.

Roads, sidewalks and entrance gates on the east side of the stadium, next to the tower, remained cordoned off Tuesday, forcing detours for fans on foot. The tower itself and several nearby restaurants and attractions were also closed.

Kansas City was also the opponent for the only previous cancellation at Rogers Centre. That happened on April 12, 2001, after a collision between two panels of the stadium’s moving roof.

In the previous doubleheaders at the stadium formerly known as Skydome, Toronto swept the Los Angeles Angels on July 17, 1989, and the Cleveland Indians on Oct. 5, 2001.

DOUBLED UP

Kansas City has two more doubleheaders scheduled this month — Saturday at Detroit and on April 28 against the Chicago White Sox.

UP NEXT

Kansas City right-hander Ian Kennedy (1-1,1.00 ERA) starts Wednesday’s series finale. He won his previous road start this season, at Cleveland on April 7. Toronto turns to left-hander J.A. Happ (2-1, 3.94), who was originally supposed to start Tuesday’s second game. He gets an extra day of rest after his last start, a 7-1 win at Baltimore on April 9.

— Associated Press —

TORONTO (AP) — Even moving indoors couldn’t get the Blue Jays back on the field.

Toronto postponed Monday’s series opener against Kansas City after chunks of ice crashed down from the nearby CN Tower following a weekend of freezing rain, including one that punctured a hole in the Rogers Centre roof.

Andrew Miller, the Blue Jays’ executive vice president of business operations, was standing in the infield with two colleagues around 10:00 a.m. Monday, examining existing damage, when a falling piece of ice tore a hole about three feet by five feet in the PVC roof over right field, sending ice and pieces of insulation crashing onto the turf.

“We saw it happen,” Miller said. “It was pretty frightening. It was really loud. It sounded like fireworks or some kind of explosion going off.”

It’s the first postponement at Rogers Centre since a game against the Royals was called off following a collision between two panels of the stadium’s moving roof on April 12, 2001. The teams will play a doubleheader on Tuesday.

“If you come to a dome and get banged, something ain’t right,” Royals manager Ned Yost said about an hour before the game was called.

Monday’s starters, Kansas City left-hander Eric Skoglund and Blue Jays lefty Jaime Garcia, will start Game 1 on Tuesday. Game 2 will also feature a pair of lefties, with Kansas City’s Danny Duffy going against Toronto’s J.A. Happ.

Weather also wiped out Toronto’s game at Cleveland on Sunday, one of six games around the majors to be postponed. It was the second straight weather-related postponement for the Indians and Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays completed a two-year, $10 million mechanical upgrade of the retractable roof before the 2017 season, and this year are looking at replacing the roof cover, which dates from the stadium opening in 1989. The stadium’s artificial turf surface, one of two such fields in the majors, does not have drainage.

On Monday afternoon, light could be seen coming through the hole above right field, while tarps and batting practice screens surrounded the area on the turf below. Workers went on the roof and patched the hole around 4 p.m., and the Blue Jays said they still hoped to play. About an hour later, the game was postponed.

“We didn’t want to put players at risk, we didn’t want to put fans or employees at risk,” Miller said. “We just thought more information and more time would help us.”

Most of the outfield was cordoned off, and tarpaulins and buckets on both the infield and outfield were being used to catch leaks and drips.

Batting practice was also called off, but players from both teams played catch on the areas of the field that were still accessible.

The postponement came hours after a post on the Blue Jays’ official Twitter feed boasted the Rogers Centre was immune to weather woes. The since-deleted tweet, which included a winking emoji, read: “Weather update: Due to our stadium having a roof, today’s game will be … Played as expected.”

The Minnesota Vikings, who dealt with multiple roof collapses at their former home, the Metrodome, later tweeted a message to the Blue Jays saying “Been there, done that @BlueJays. We’re here if you need any support.”

Police blocked access to entrance gates on the east side of the stadium, next to the tower, because “relatively large” pieces of ice were falling onto streets and sidewalks below. Authorities said no injuries had been reported, but several windows in nearby office buildings were smashed and at least one car was struck.

Falling ice also made for a scary arrival in Toronto for the Royals, who flew in from Kansas City late Sunday after their game against the Los Angeles Angels was among those postponed. While the team was en route to its Toronto hotel, a flying chunk of ice broke the windshield of a team bus, showering the driver in glass. Reliever Blaine Boyer grabbed the wheel and helped bring the bus to a stop.

Rogers Centre wasn’t the only Toronto stadium affected by the weather. Water was leaking into the seating area at nearby Air Canada Centre about an hour before Monday’s NHL playoff game between the Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. That game began on time. Saturday’s NBA playoff game at the same arena between the Raptors and Washington Wizards was delayed by a leak along the baseline.

The weekend ice storm resulted in power outages, canceled flights and road collisions across Ontario. More than 120,000 customers remain without power.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s third major league start will be pushed back to Tuesday as the Los Angeles Angels game Sunday at the Kansas City Royals was postponed because of cold temperatures.

After a day off Monday, the Japanese star will pitch Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox when the Angels will open a six-game homestand in Anaheim.

It was 31 degrees with an 18 mph wind, making it feel like 20 degrees on Sunday.

“Just the simple fact that I was going to be pitching in cold weather, that was a little worrisome for me,” Ohtani said through an interpreter.

“Also, I was worried my fingertips might lose the feel for the ball. That was one of the things I was worried (about).”

The game will be made up on June 25 in Kansas City.

“The Royals, Major League Baseball, talked to both parties just to kind of get an understanding of everything that was happening and where we were, and I think they made the right decision, just functionality, in every respect.” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

“I saw snow flurries out there again. Wind chill of 18 degrees. We’ve all played in cold weather. But at some point it crosses a line and I think today definitely crossed a line.”

Ohtani said he has had games postponed in Japan.

“This is not the first time this has happened,” Ohtani said. “I’m kind of used to it. It is what it is, so, I just have to get ready for Tuesday.”

Instead of facing the Royals, who are hitting .231 and rank last in the American League with 39 runs in 13 games, Ohtani will face a potent Red Sox lineup, which entered Sunday leading the American League with a .349 on-base percentage and second with a .445 slugging percentage.

“I was preparing for the Royals lineup,” Ohtani said. “Since it got cancelled, I haven’t had time to look at the Red Sox lineup or the data yet. I’ll get on that after this. I know they have a great team. They’re off to a great start. It’s not going to be easy.”

Royals manager Ned Yost had spent the morning studying Ohtani on video.

“I sat and watched Ohtani all day, probably every pitch he’s thrown all year long,” Yost said.

“I’ve watched all four hits he’s given up. Fastball down in the zone, 96 to 100 miles per hour, a tremendous split. He’s good a good slider. Fastball and split, it’s a deadly combination. You just got to go up and battle. I don’t know if you can have a plan against stuff like that.

“I think if you watch this kid he’s as talented as anybody you’ve seen in a long time. I think he’s just starting to get his feet on the ground now. What we’ve seen from this point is kind of the tip of the iceberg.

“When he gets really comfortable and understands the hype and everything that goes along with it, I think you’ll only see him get better and better.”

Royals rookie left-hander Eric Skoglund, who was scheduled to start Sunday, was pushed back a day and will start Monday in Toronto to open a seven-game trip.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Trout, Justin Upton and Luis Valbuena homered as the Los Angeles Angels won their seventh straight, beating the Kansas City Royals 5-3 Saturday night with the final innings played with snow falling.

The Angels won their ninth consecutive road game, and will Shohei Ohtani as their starting pitcher Sunday. The Royals have lost five straight.

Trout hit his AL-leading sixth homer, a two-run drive in the fifth off Jakob Junis (2-1).

Upton homered to lead off the fourth. Valbuena snapped Junis’ 16-inning scoreless streak with a leadoff drive in the third.

Angels right-hander Garrett Richards (2-0) did not allow a baserunner until the fifth, when he walked Lucas Duda to start the inning. Paulo Orlando got Kansas City’s first hit with one out and Duda wound up scoring on one of Richards’ three wild pitches in the inning.

Keynan Middleton worked the ninth for his fourth save in as many chances.

Drew Butera had an RBI single in the seventh that made it 5-2, but Whit Merrifield flied out with the bases full to end the inning. Mike Moustakas homered to lead off the Kansas City eighth.

VERSATILE WHIT

Merrifield started in center field for the first time in his career. He has also started at second, first, right and DH in the first 13 Royals games.

ROTATION ADDITION

The Angels used nine starters in their first 15 games. “We’ll be at a six-man rotation next week sometime,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. RHP Parker Bridwell, who made 20 starts last season and went 10-3, is the probable contender to join the rotation.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: C Salvador Perez (left knee strain) joined Double-A Northwest Arkansas for a rehab assignment. . OF Bubba Starling, who has a left oblique strain, will return to the field Monday in extended spring. . IF Adalberto Mondesi (right shoulder impingement) returned to the field Saturday in extended spring. Assistant GM J.J. Picollo said they want to get Starling and Mondesi about 40 at-bats before sending them out. . Orlando has a tender knee and was the DH.

UP NEXT

Angels: Ohtani, who didn’t bat Saturday night, will make his third big league start, all on Sundays. He is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA, beating Oakland twice. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in the 30s with a 20 mph wind. “I grew up, I was born in a cold place,” Ohtani said through a translator. “Playing a game like that, I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced that cold.”

Royals: LHP Eric Skoglund is looking for his first win since his big league debut on May 30, 2017.

— Associated Press —