Manoah, Blue Jays shut down Royals in back-to-back rout

Alek Manoah scattered six hits in six scoreless innings and the visiting Toronto Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 7-0 Tuesday night.

Alejandro Kirk had four hits and scored a run for Toronto, and Bo Bichette reached base five times — including three walks. The Blue Jays have won back-to-back shutouts for the first time since last July.

Manoah (7-1) worked around a bases-loaded jam in the sixth after putting two of the runners on with two-out walks. He also got all four strikeouts on called third strikes.

Matt Chapman's two-run double put the Blue Jays on the board in the second. Kirk looped a one-out single into centre, followed by a hustle double by Santiago Espinal that sent Kirk to third. Chapman then pulled a slider into left, driving in two.

The Royals put pressure on Manoah, but inning-ending double plays in the second and third innings stalled the rallies. Bichette leaped high in the air to snag a line drive, doubling off Carlos Santana at second to end the second inning.

Bat Chapman is hitting .394 over his last ten games