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.
EDITOR’S PICKS
Mr. Walk-Off, a.k.a. Josh Donaldson, strikes again
Josh Donaldson may not be the most valuable player in the AL, but he’s not far behind. Hits like the game-winner Friday are a big reason why.
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.
