TORONTO _ This one was a loss in steps, fire that could not be put out.
In their first trip to Canada since last year's American League Championship Series, the Royals absorbed a seventh-inning upper cut on Monday, falling 6-2 to the Blue Jays in the first game of a three-game series.
As they celebrated America's birthday on foreign soil, the Royals dropped to 43-39 following a series loss in Philadelphia over the weekend. This one came apart in the course of one inning.
When the bottom of the seventh inning began, the score was tied 1-1. When the damage was done, the Blue Jays' offense had laid waste to starter Edinson Volquez and reliever Luke Hochevar, leveling the Royals with five runs.
Volquez loaded the bases on a walk, a single and a hit batter. Royals manager Ned Yost called on Hochevar to stop the bleeding.
Instead, he compounded the problem by issuing a bases-loaded walk and allowing two singles, the only out coming on sacrifice bunt.
When reigning MVP Josh Donaldson stroked a two-run single to right field, the Blue Jays led 6-1.
The Royals' only offense came on a solo homer from Kendrys Morales in the top of the seventh and a solo shot from Eric Hosmer in the ninth.
Morales had entered Monday batting .443 (35 for 79) with eight homers in his last 22 games. He had clubbed four homers in his last four games, and he had just missed another one on a line shot down the right field line. Moments later, he took advantage of another chance, crushing a homer to right-center.
The Blue Jays manufactured a run in the first inning after Volquez opened the game by walking the first two batters. He responded by tossing five scoreless innings before faltering in the seventh.
Alex Gordon saved a run with the defensive play of the night, throwing out Edwin Encarnacion from deep left field to end the fourth inning.
