Duffy pitches 6 sharp innings to lead Royals past Blue Jays

The Chicago Cubs said they do not expect starter Jason Hammel to miss a turn in the rotation because of the hamstring tightness that caused him to leave Wednesday’s game against St. Louis. 500 for the first time since June 9. They have won six games in a row for the first time since opening the season 7-0.

The third baseman has been on the team’s bereavement/family medical emergency list. Tonight, he put forth arguably his best performance of the season, stifling the AL’s best offense over six shutout innings.

Danny Duffy’s fastball was too much for the Toronto Blue Jays’ power hitters.

Blue Jays: LHP Mark Buerhle, 4-1 in his past eight starts, will start Saturday.

Duffy (3-4) gave up four singles while walking three and hitting a batter to earn his first victory since beating Detroit on April 30. After limping around the mound for a moment, Estrada threw a couple of pitches, conferred with assistant trainer Mike Frostad, then stayed in the game.

The next inning, however, Estrada wasn’t as fortunate. Salvador Perez, Alex Rios and Alcides Escobar each had two hits and an RBI. In the eighth, Perez crushed his team-leading 15th home run of the season into the Kansas City bullpen, right into the glove of an idle Franklin Morales. He is hitting. 301 with seven homers and 31 RBIs.

1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis both overcame doubles to work scoreless seventh and eighth innings. Game 3: Doubront you may remember from his days in Boston, he’s got a low ERA and one win with the Jays. Holland struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save in 20 opportunities.

Moustakas left Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Twins after five innings. The 1976 and 2003 clubs also won 51 before the All-Star Game.

Friday’s total for the Blue Jays vs. Royals betting matchup is set at 8.5 runs at the sportsbooks. Eric Hosmer, who is 6-for-20 (.300) against the veteran left-hander, collected four hits in the series opener and has seven in his last three contests.