One defensive miscue plus zero runs equals Royals wasting a great Zack Greinke effort

A full moon climbed up the night sky, visible to the announced 10,015 fans Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium.

Sky-watching proved to be more enjoyable than the game itself. The Royals managed just two hits in a 3-0 loss to the Blue Jays.

The Royals (1-5) were shut out for the third time in six games and wasted a great start by Zack Greinke.

“It’s frustrating,” first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said. “He goes out there and works his tail off like that and holds them to one run, and it should have been zero runs. I gotta catch that ball.”

Greinke (0-2) took the loss thanks to the defensive misplay Pasquantino mentioned.

Toronto had runners on the corners with one out in the sixth inning of a scoreless game when Toronto’s Matt Chapman scorched a grounder to second baseman Michael Massey.

A double play is a pitcher’s best friend, it is said, but the Royals were unable to get the inning-ending BFF because shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.’s hurried throw to first short-hopped Pasquantino.

“I’m not sure exactly what happened,” said Royals bench coach Paul Hoover, who filled in for manager Paul Quartaro. “Obviously he (Witt) makes that play all the time. Tonight it was unfortunate he didn’t make that play.”

That was all Blue Jays starter Alek Manoah needed as he limited the Royals to one hit over seven innings.

Jackie Bradley Jr.’s fifth-inning single was all the Royals mustered until Salvador Perez’s single in the ninth.

Greinke allowed one run on seven hits in six innings with four strikeouts and a walk.

“Command was good. I felt strong at the end but stuff just wasn’t going as sharp because it was locating pretty good the last inning and they were on a lot of stuff and the movement was a little less,” Greinke said. “So they hit the ball hard that last inning I pitched.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s solo home run off Taylor Clarke in the eighth inning was followed in short order by Daulton Varsho’s double and Chapman’s RBI single as the Blue Jays took a 3-0 lead.

Missed the start of the series?

Game 1: Pre-game text helped spur Royals to first win of season

Game 2: Blue Jays hold Royals to 4 hits in 4-1 win

Greinke ties ex-Spiders pitcher

Greinke made his 516th career start, tying Jack Powell for 43rd all-time. Powell began his career in 1897 with the Cleveland Spiders and later pitched for the St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals and New York Highlanders. Powell had 422 complete games in his career.

Oh baby

The Royals placed outfielder Kyle Isbel on the paternity list ahead of Wednesday’s game and Nick Pratto was recalled. Pratto, the Royals’ first-round pick in the 2017 draft, started in left field.

Pratto appeared in 49 games for the Royals last season.

“I’m more comfortable this time around, obviously, having the experience from last year,” Pratto said before the game. “It’s been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks and it’s good to be back here.”

On deck

Jordan Lyles (0-1) goes for the Royals on Thursday as they finish a four-game series against the Blue Jays, who will start Kevin Gausman. First pitch will be at 1:10 p.m. at Kauffman Stadium.