KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Royals shook up their coaching staff Thursday in an attempt to jumpstart their failing offense, appointing Dale Sveum (swaym) as the hitting coach and making Mike Jirschele their third base coach.
Pedro Grifol, who took over as hitting coach last season, will now instruct catchers.
The moves paid off as Omar Infante hit a two-run single in the 10th inning and the Royals overcame two home runs by Edwin Encarnacion to beat the Blue Jays 8-6 on Thursday night, snapping Toronto’s winning streak at nine games.
Facing Todd Redmond, Alcides Escobar singled to begin the 10th. Pedro Ciriaco was hit on the front of the helmet while squaring to bunt and Nori Aoki advanced the runners with a sacrifice before Infante lined a single just over the reach of leaping third baseman Brett Lawrie.
Wade Davis worked two innings for the win and Greg Holland closed it out for his 15th save in 16 chances.
The Blue Jays were on the verge of victory in the ninth before the Royals tied it with an unearned run off Casey Janssen, who blew a save for the first time in nine chances.
