Kansas City, Mo. ? Three hits produced a big inning for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Shea Hillenbrand and Eric Hinske each hit two-run doubles in a six-run fifth inning as the Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals, 9-4, Saturday night.

The Blue Jays sent 10 men to the plate in the fifth and took advantage of three walks, Donnie Murphy’s error and a wild pitch to break open the game. The Blue Jays have scored an American League-high 126 runs in July.

“We got some walks and some clutch hits as well,” said Frank Catalanotto, who opened the inning with a walk. “We were able to bury them, knock them around to get a big inning. Guys were taking pitches.”

Dave Bush (1-5), just recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, earned his first victory since Oct. 1. The right-hander was 0-5 in 10 starts to begin the season with Toronto before being sent to the minors May 29.

“At the beginning of the year, I didn’t imagine it would take this long,” Bush said.

Having a 9-2 lead in the fifth helped.

“That definitely makes it easier,” Bush said. “That’s one of the things I try not to worry about, but at the same time I knew we scored quite a few runs. I was trying to get the fastball over early in the count and get ahead.”

Catalanotto walked, and Vernon Wells doubled to start the fifth against Kyle Snyder, who was making his first big-league start since Aug. 5, 2003. Hillenbrand’s double to left scored both to give Toronto a 5-2 lead.

Snyder (0-1) was replaced by Mike Wood, who walked Aaron Hill. Gregg Zaun reached on Murphy’s fielding error, which allowed Hillenbrand, who went to third on a wild pitch, to score. Alex Rios walked to load the bases before Hinske’s two-run double off the right-field bullpen gate. Orlando Hudson’s sacrifice fly scored Rios with the final run of the inning.

“We’re a streaky bunch, and when we string together some hits we score a lot of runs,” Zaun said.

Bush held the Royals to three runs and eight hits in seven innings. He walked one and struck out two.

“Dave pitched great,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. “He gave us seven strong innings. He gave up some hits, but got some big outs. He had a cut fastball and was throwing the breaking ball behind in the count to keep them off balance. He stepped it up. He’s been waiting for that start for a while.

“I’ve got confidence in Dave. We gave him a chance to do his thing. We brought him back for a reason. He got in the win column, which is important for a guy. You need something to show for it.”

Bush altered his windup when he was sent to Syracuse.

“He had better fastball command than prior to his departure,” Zaun said. “His ability to throw his fastball where he wanted it made a big difference.”

John Buck’s single in the second scored Angel Berroa and Mark Teahen to give the Royals a 2-1 lead.

The Blue Jays regained the lead in the third on Catalanotto’s two-run triple.

“I was looking for a fastball out over the plate and he threw it in the middle-in and I was able to get the bat head to it and get it in the gap,” Catalanotto said.

Wells’ sacrifice fly in the first scored Reed Johnson, giving him an AL-leading 22 RBIs in July.

Snyder, who did not pitch last season after having shoulder surgery, allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks in four-plus innings.

“Physically, I felt great and that was the biggest positive I’ll take from this,” Snyder said. “But I definitely made some poor pitches back-to-back. In big situations, I couldn’t come up with a big pitch at the right time. I made some bad pitches and it cost us the game because of it.”

Still, manager Buddy Bell thought it was a promising start.

“That inning started off with a walk and we had a couple of misplays,” Bell said. “I thought Kyle had pretty good stuff, but location was not where he wanted it. It’s his first start back. I’m certain his adrenaline was more than anything in Omaha. I liked his stuff and the way he competes.”

Murphy’s groundout in the seventh scored Teahen, who had doubled and stopped at third on Buck’s single.

Notes: Royals DH Mike Sweeney was unavailable to play because of immobility in his left wrist after being hit by a pitch on Friday. Sweeney is listed as day-to-day with a bruise. … Blue Jays LHP Ted Lilly, who starts on Sunday, is 1-6 with a 7.28 ERA in eight road starts. … Royals CF David DeJesus went 0-for-5, snapping his 13-game hitting streak. … Wells was moved from center to DH because of a bruised heel.