Righty Brian Bannister began the season in the minors, but he has pitched like an ace since his April 22 recall from Class AAA Omaha.
Bannister held the Blue Jays to one hit over seven innings in the Royals' 7-1 victory Monday night. Toronto entered the game topping the majors in batting average, runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, hits and doubles. The potent Blue Jays' offense, however, could do little with Bannister. Adam Lind's two-out run-producing single to right was the only hit Bannister permitted.
"I made a stupid pitch to Lind in the first," Bannister said. "It was just a bad choice on pitches."
While Bannister gave up just one hit, he had to maneuver around six walks, including five of the first 14 batters he faced.
"That's not the way you draw it up," Bannister said. "You don't walk six and have an outing like that, but the ball was just moving all over the place all night. I just stuck with it and battled through it."
After pitching out of a jam in the fourth when he walked the bases loaded, Bannister retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced.
He is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA in two starts, allowing one run and five hits in 13 innings.
ROYALS 7, BLUE JAYS 1: Jose Guillen hit two home runs and Miguel Olivo hit a three-run shot, all off Toronto southpaw David Purcey. Willie Bloomquist had a triple, walked twice, scored a run and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Brian Bannister, Jamey Wright and Kyle Farnsworth combined on a two-hitter.
