KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 18 (UPI) -- Josh Phelps gave Toronto a 4-1 lead with his sixth home run of the season, a three-run shot off Royals rookie starter Kyle Snyder in the sixth inning Sunday that boosted the Blue Jays to a 4-3 decision over the Kansas City Royals.
Toronto has homered in 12 straight games, blasting 21 in that span.
The Royals, who have lost five of their last six games and 15 of 23, fell into second place in the American League Central for the first time this season.
Pinch-hitter Carlos Beltran hit a solo homer off Cliff Politte with two outs in the ninth inning and Michael Tucker reached on second baseman Orlando Hudson's throwing error to put the tying run aboard. But Politte got Desi Relaford to foul out to third to end the game and notched his sixth save in eight chances.
Kansas City got within 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth when rookie designated hitter Ken Harvey doubled home Mike Sweeney. Harvey is hitting just .248 but is second on the Royals with 23 RBI.
Snyder allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. He has pitched into the seventh inning in three of his four starts, but Kansas City has lost every time the has taken the mound.
Kansas City threatened in the eighth inning as Sweeney singled with one out and Harvey reached on an infield hit with two outs, but Dee Brown grounded out to end the threat.
The Royals manufactured a run in the first inning as Tucker started things off with a double. Tucker stole third and then got Kansas City on the board as he came across on Relaford's groundout to first.
The Blue Jays got even as Carlos Delgado swung at a 3-0 pitch from Snyder leading off the second and parked it over the fence in right-center field for his 13th homer.
Tampa Bay reliever Tanyon Sturtze (4-4) gave up one run and two hits with three strikeouts and no walks in 2 1/3 innings and notched the victory. It was his first relief appearance since 2001.
