KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Interstat) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Andres Gimenez drove in two runs apiece as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 8-5 Sunday and clinched a playoff berth.

Toronto is the first team in the American League to secure a spot in the playoffs, returning to the postseason for the first time since 2023, and improved its AL-best and AL East-leading record to 90-66.

The Blue Jays scored three runs in the second inning on run-scoring hits by Gimenez, Tyler Heineman and George Springer. Guerrero hit a two-run double in the fifth and Addison Barger followed with an RBI double to give Toronto a 6-2 lead.

The victory, secured in two hours and 39 minutes before an announced crowd of 32,936 at Kauffman Stadium, snapped a two-game skid for the Blue Jays, who had dropped the first two contests of this series, including a lopsided 20-1 defeat on Friday afternoon.

Seranthony Domínguez earned the win in relief for Toronto, tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts to improve to 4-4. Jeff Hoffman closed the door in the ninth, working around a one-out double by Mike Yastrzemski for his 33rd save of the season.

Royals starter Michael Wacha took the loss, surrendering six runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. He fell to 9-13.

The Blue Jays’ offense struck first, manufacturing three runs in the second inning. After Davis Schneider walked, Nathan Lukes reached on a fielder’s choice. Ernie Clement then singled to right, setting the stage for Gimenez, who drove in Lukes with a single to right field. Heineman followed with a sacrifice bunt that scored Clement, and Springer capped the rally with an RBI double to center that brought Gimenez home.

Kansas City answered in the fourth against Toronto starter Trey Yesavage. Vinnie Pasquantino walked and Maikel Garcia singled before Carter Jensen delivered a two-run single to right field, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

Toronto responded immediately in the top of the fifth. Heineman and Daulton Varsho singled to set the table for Guerrero, who cleared the bases with a two-run double to center field. Barger then drove in Guerrero with a double to right, extending the lead to 6-2.

The Royals clawed back with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Yastrzemski and Bobby Witt Jr. singled to lead off the inning. After a force out, Garcia delivered an RBI single, and Salvador Perez followed with a run-scoring single of his own to make it 6-4.

Kansas City inched closer in the sixth when Jac Caglianone tripled and scored on a single by Randal Grichuk, pulling the Royals within a run.

Toronto added crucial insurance runs in the eighth. Pinch-runner Myles Straw scored on a single by Clement, and Gimenez followed with an RBI triple to center, pushing the lead to 8-5.

The Blue Jays’ bullpen combination of Eric Lauer and Domínguez silenced the Royals’ bats in the seventh and eighth, and Hoffman finished the job in the ninth to seal the victory and the playoff clincher.

The Blue Jays outhit the Royals 12 to 10. Gimenez and Clement each had two hits for Toronto, while Garcia and Jensen had two hits apiece for Kansas City, which saw its record even at 78-78.

Toronto travels home to open a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. The Royals begin a six-game road trip with three against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.