Junis earns first win of season as Royals hold off Jays

Rock Falls native Jakob Junis picked up his first win of the 2021 season on Thursday as the Royals beat the Blue Jays 7-5 in Kansas City.

Junis, making his second start of the year, pitched five innings and struck out six, allowing two runs on five hits.

The Royals jumped out to a 7-0 lead thanks in part to a four-run third, chasing Toronto starter Anthony Kay.

Meanwhile Junis allowed just two base runners through his first four innings. In the top of the fifth, Toronto put runners at second and third with one out before Junis struck out the next two batters he faced to work out of the threat.

He came out to pitch the sixth, but allowed a walk and a single to open the inning and was pulled.