Nathan Lukes homers and Blue Jays end Royals' 9-game winning streak with 3-0 victory

TORONTO (AP) — Seven Toronto pitchers combined on a six-hitter, Nathan Lukes hit a three-run homer and the Blue Jays beat the Royals 3-0 on Wednesday night, ending Kansas City’s nine-game winning streak.

Chad Dallas (2-1) struck out four in 2 2/3 hitless innings for his second career win and Louis Varland got the final four outs for his 30th save in 31 chances.

The Royals were seeking their longest win streak since a 10-game stretch from June 7-18, 2014.

Toronto used its ninth shutout to bounce back after losing consecutive games for the first time in a month. The Blue Jays lost 8-3 at New York on Sunday and 5-3 Tuesday to Kansas City, their first back-to-back defeats since a four-game skid from July 19-22.

The Royals had two hits through seven innings before Carter Jensen and Bobby Witt Jr. chased Tyler Rogers with back-to-back singles in the eighth. Varland came on and retired Jac Caglianone on the first pitch.

Nick Loftin doubled with two outs in the ninth and John Rave followed with an infield single. Varland ended it by striking out Isaac Collins.

Spencer Miles opened for Toronto and was replaced after Tyler Tolbert’s infield hit to begin the third. Brendon Little walked Jensen and Witt was intentionally walked before Little struck out Caglianone. Dallas came on and struck out Salvador Perez.

Kansas City’s Randy Dobnak (2-2) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.

Lukes homered off Dobnak in the fourth, his ninth.

Royals infielder Michael Massey did not play. He left Tuesday’s game after falling and hitting his head on the turf.

Blue Jays RHP Spencer Arrighetti (7-6, 4.73 ERA) is scheduled to start Thursday against Royals LHP Noah Cameron (8-8, 4.02).

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Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes, left, celebrates his three-run home run against the Kansas City Royals with with Kazuma Okamoto, center, and Jesus Sanchez, right, during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Kansas City Royals' Tyler Tolbert (2) slides in to steal third base during third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Spencer Miles works against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes (38) hits a three-run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

A 22-year-old college student killed by Pennsylvania police responding to a possible burglary had just realized he was at the wrong home and was waiting for friends to come get him when he was shot, his father said Wednesday.

Police in Upper Pottsgrove Township, northwest of Philadelphia, responded around 12:30 a.m. Sunday to a 911 call about a possible break-in attempt, according to the Montgomery County district attorney's office. The office said in a statement that police found Glenwood Pysher IV at the rear of the home and ultimately shot and killed him.

Pysher's father, Glen Pysher, said his son and his friends had visited several bars earlier in the evening and were splitting up to spend the night in two homes when his son took a wrong turn in the woods. Based on what he has been told by his son's friends, Pysher believes his son mistakenly tried to enter what he thought was his friend's house. His son wasn't carrying any weapons, just a phone and backpack containing clothing and a few beers, he said.

“He tried to open the doorknob and obviously startled the homeowner,” he said. “From what we understand, he announced, ‘Hey! Open the door!’ because he thought he was at his friend's house.”

Pysher then sat down on the back porch and contacted his friends, who realized he was in the wrong place and set out to find him. But minutes later, they saw police and emergency vehicles and figured their friend would be arrested for public drunkenness. Instead, he was shot.

“At 12:32 a.m. my son was on a FaceTime call with his friends that were coming to get him,” he said. “We were told that my son was shot at 12:35 a.m. So what kind of encounter could have ensued? What kind of communication could that officer have given him?”

A Montgomery County Department of Public Safety dispatch record shows police were dispatched at 12:30 a.m. and arrived at 12:34 a.m. Upper Pottsgrove Township Police Chief Al Werner declined to release any information, including the names of any officers involved, until the investigation is complete. The Montgomery County Detective Bureau is investigating the shooting, the district attorney’s office said.

The shooting by police checking a report of a possible break-in is sharply distinguished from several other cases in which residents have shot people who mistakenly showed up at their homes.

Pysher was about to begin his senior year at Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey, where he planned to play baseball. His goal was to become a high school history teacher and coach after graduation.

His father described him as a kindhearted, loving kid who could be a “knucklehead” but enjoyed helping others. Since the shooting, former teammates, coaches and others have been texting his father to share their memories of him.

“One young man in particular texted me and said, ‘I was going through a lot of really difficult things in my life. I was going the wrong way. And your son is the one who helped me put my life on track,’" the father said. “He will be sadly missed in his community.”

Pysher said police have given the family almost no information. On Wednesday, he called asking whether he could retrieve his son's favorite pair of black shoes to bury him in and was told that could be arranged.

Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire, and Brumback from Atlanta.

FILE - The Upper Pottsgrove Township police station is seen Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Upper Pottsgrove Township, Pa. (AP Photo/Tassanee Vejpongsa,File)

An Upper Pottsgrove Township police vehicle is seen Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Upper Pottsgrove Township, Pa. (AP Photo/Tassanee Vejpongsa)

The Upper Pottsgrove Township police station is seen Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Upper Pottsgrove Township, Pa. (AP Photo/Tassanee Vejpongsa)