Kansas City, Mo. ? Runelvys Hernandez made the most of his chance to keep pitching.

Allowed to pitch while appealing a 10-game suspension, Hernandez worked six solid innings to earn his third straight win as the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-3, Friday night.

“Let’s not talk about the suspension,” Hernandez said. “I don’t feel good about that. I’m appealing, trying to get it down to one start.”

Hernandez (8-9) was suspended Thursday by Major League Baseball for his role in Sunday’s bench-clearing brawl in a game between the Royals and Tigers. Hernandez hit Carlos Guillen in the head with a pitch, leading to the melee.

“I didn’t pitch that bad, but I was much better in Detroit than today,” Hernandez said. “I’ve got better games than today. Sometimes you have to make adjustments to throw the ball down.”

Hernandez gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings. The right-hander, who missed all of last season after having elbow surgery, is 6-2 in his past eight starts. Twice he got Frank Catalanotto to ground into double plays to get out of trouble.

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“I don’t think Runelvys had his best stuff, but that’s what makes him so effective,” Royals catcher John Buck said. “He still does what it takes to get runners out. He gets double plays and gets himself out of holes. He just makes great pitches at great times.”

Bench coach Bob Schaefer, acting as manager while Buddy Bell served a one-game suspension from the Detroit scuffle, removed Hernandez after 81 pitches.

“With the power arms in our bullpen and the heat, it was a no-brainer,” Schaefer said. “It’s not my win. It’s Buddy’s win. I’m just glad I didn’t screw it up.”

Andrew Sisco, Jeremy Affeldt and Mike MacDougal shut out the Blue Jays over the final three innings, with MacDougal pitching a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 16 opportunities.

Royals All-Star Mike Sweeney was taken to a hospital for X-rays after he was hit in the left hand by a pitch in the first inning. X-rays were negative, detecting only a bruise, and Sweeney is listed as day-to-day.