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(SportsNetwork.com) - The Toronto Blue Jays will attempt to salvage a split of this weekends four-game series with the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. The Blue Jays were defeated in each of the first two games of the weekend, but they came back in a big way on Saturday. Jose Bautista got things started in the first inning, roping a RBI double to right center to kick off a seven-run first inning. Toronto would add to that total throughout the day en route to a 12-2 victory. Bautista finished 2-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored, while Adam Lind (3- for-4, 2 RBI, 4 runs), Brett Lawrie (2-for-3, 3 RBI) and Juan Francisco (3- for-4, 4 RBI) all had big days at the plate. Marcus Stroman, who was a late replacement for scheduled starter Drew Hutchison, was the beneficiary of the offensive eruption. Stroman made his first career start in just his sixth Major League game and allowed just one run on five hits while striking out six in six innings. "It was a pretty unbelievable game to be a part of. The offense is just so special," said Stroman. Aaron Brooks was making his first career start on the other side for Kansas City, but he did not fare as well. Brooks allowed all seven runs in the first inning and was relieved after recording only two outs. He gave up five hits and three walks. "I just couldnt control the zone," said Brooks. "I was just trying to do a little too much I guess." Jeremy Guthrie will attempt to keep up a recent string of success when he takes the mound for Kansas City on Sunday. Although he was tagged with the loss in his last start, Guthrie allowed just one run over six innings of work against Houston. That outing came on the heels of a seven-inning, one-run effort against the White Sox in his previous start. Guthrie has not been so consistently effective this season, as he is just 2-4 with an ERA of 4.14. In fact, after winning his first two starts of the season, Guthrie has taken a loss in four straight decisions. The good news for the Royals is that they are 6-5 when Guthrie is on the mound. In his 11 seasons in the majors, Guthrie has only three wins in 21 chances against the Blue Jays. He has also taken eight losses, but worked a respectable 3.46 ERA. MLB wins leader Mark Buehrle will try to add to his total when he gets the ball for the Blue Jays. The veteran left-hander has been extremely impressive this season, racking up a 9-1 record in 11 starts, while keeping his ERA to just 2.33. It is quite the turnaround for Buehrle, who went just 12-10 with a 4.15 ERA in 33 starts last season. Buehrle earned his ninth win this past Tuesday, despite letting up four runs, three of which were earned, and failing to get out of the seventh inning. Luckily the Blue Jays bats picked him up, leading to a 9-6 victory over Tampa Bay. There is plenty of familiarity between Buehrle and the Royals, as the left- hander spent his first 12 seasons playing for the division rival White Sox. In 53 appearances, 51 of which were starts, Buehrle has accumulated a 24-12 record and an ERA of 3.64 against the Royals. Toronto had won five straight series entering this weekend. Kansas City has a chance to win its first series since taking two from Colorado on May 13 and May 14. The Royals have not won a four-game series since taking three out of four from the White Sox in the final four games of last season. Chase Daniel Jersey . His recovery time is expected to be six to eight months. Seidenberg was injured in the third period of Fridays 5-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators, when he got his leg tangled with forward Cory Conacher. Allen Robinson Bears Jersey . Rinne had surgery on his left hip May 9 and recovered in time to start the season. He then had arthroscopic surgery on Oct. 24 because of a bacterial infection in his hip. http://www.bearsrookiestore.com/Bears-A ... ch-Jersey/. Louis Cardinals won the World Series last season, but after losing first baseman Albert Pujols to free agency and manager Tony LaRussa to retirement, they opened the 2012 season in 12th spot in the TSN. Aaron Lynch Bears Jersey . Adam Lind provided the power and rookie starter Marcus Stroman had the best start of his young career as the Blue Jays dumped the Yankees 8-3 at Rogers Centre. Stroman, making his fifth start for Toronto, allowed one earned run and three hits over a career-high eight innings. Roquan Smith Jersey . -- Athletics manager Bob Melvin is already starting to run out of superlatives to describe Scott Kazmir.Patrick Davison sat down with Jermain Defoe to chat about the pressure on his shoulders at Sunderland, how he learnt from Ian Wright, and his relationships with Dick Advocaat and Sam Allardyce... Theres always a food bus at Sky Live games. A double-decker where everyone can sit and eat a few hours before kick-off.It was on the bus ahead of Tuesday nights game between Newcastle and Manchester City that conversation, predictably, turned to who might stay up. There was a variety of opinions, but only one player from any of the three teams fighting for their lives got a mention - Jermain Defoe.When I met with the man himself at Sunderlands Academy of Light training ground a few days later, it was the first thing I put to him. I wanted to know what its like, having the pressure of everyone expecting you to score, knowing youre the one team-mates rely on, that the clubs future might very well rest in your hands.He didnt look worried. Defoe loves being the main man.The goals now are more important than ever, says the striker who already has 141 of them in the Premier League.But its good pressure. I want to be the one who makes the difference, who wins us games which are so big.I keep that in my mind when Im out there on the pitch and I wait for my chance. Defoe says he is not surprised by the rise of Harry Kane or Tottenham after their impressive season Hes been like this for as long as he can remember. As a kid, endlessly watching and re-watching video tapes, just to see goals. Never happy, even when playing in the playground, if he didnt score.The boys used to laugh about it. JDs not going to pass it round the edge of the box. But if I was a defender or midfielder, Id want a striker like that.Even now, in training, if I score, Younes Kaboul and Sheasy [John OShea] say to me: Brilliant, keep adding to the tally, keep doing it. They know what it means to me to score. Maybe I was born that way.Defoe has worked hard to become a finisher. During those younger days, he would travel from his home in east London to the north of the capital to watch Arsenal - Sunderlands opponents on this weekends Super Sunday. Sam Allardyce believes Sunderland need three wins from their last five games tto avoid relegation He wasnt an Arsenal fan, he didnt even always follow the ball.dddddddddddd. He went to Highbury to watch Ian Wright.Back then people used to say Boring Arsenal, but they used to win 1-0 and Wrighty would score. To think now that Im the one the lads look to for the goal is a great feeling.A young Defoe didnt just watch football, he was, and is, a big boxing fan. Now, along with his team-mates, hes in a scrap of his own and drawing inspiration from those he watched in the ring.I remember being at my nans and watching the Benn v Eubank fights. There was such a buzz, not just the fights but the whole build-up. I was always fascinated by the pressure and how they would deal with it. Jermain Defoe celebrates scoring in the win over Norwich last weekend Im also a massive Floyd Mayweather fan. Watching him before some of the biggest fights ever and hes always composed and relaxed. Its knowing that, yes theres massive pressure, but if you have enough belief you will do well.At times, in print, Defoes quotes look a bit like some of Mayweathers - assured, maybe even to the point of cockiness. But see him speak, as anyone who watches his interview on Sunday will, and a warm, engaging team man comes across.An example of his willingness to sacrifice himself for his team came last season under Dick Advocaat. The two didnt always see eye to eye and the Dutchman didnt believe he was suited to the lone striker role.Defoe had to do a job for the team as a left-sided midfielder, at times playing more like an extra left-back as Sunderland escaped relegation.I told him Id scored a hat-trick playing for England against Bulgaria playing up front by myself, says the 33-year-old, who finished with 19 goals in 55 games for his country. Defoe discusses his younger days in football and how watching Ian Wright helped him to perfect the art of goalscoring. But for some reason he thought I couldnt do it. I never really said anything, I just let my football do the talking.This season, mainly under Sam Allardyce, faith in Defoe has been restored. The striker has managed 13 league goals in a struggling side, the last of them the vital second goal in a huge win at Norwich that kept Sunderland afloat.The new manager, he says, deserves credit. For his own turnaround and for the teams.Hes brilliant. A good guy and really funny. He knows how to do it. A manager can only do so much but he gives you the platform to go and win games. Hopefully we can stay up and then next season will be a good season.To escape, Sunderland will almost certainly need Defoes goals. And thats exactly the way he wants it.Watch Sunderland v Arsenal live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 1pm on Sunday. Also See: Big Sam: Defoe brainwashed Defoe: Fitness was big issue Sky Live: Sunderland v Arsenal Sunderland fixtures Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap Yankees Jerseys Cheap Rays Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Athletics Jerseys Cheap Mariners Jerseys Cheap Rangers Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys Cheap Phillies Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Pirates Jerseys Cheap Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Padres Jerseys ' ' '