Toronto ? Josh Towers is starting to fulfill his promise.

Towers won his third straight start by pitching eight strong innings, and the Toronto Blue Jays ended a four-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory Monday over the struggling Kansas City Royals.

“I think I have to prove myself,” said Towers, who has yet to show he can be consistent since breaking into the majors in 2001. “When I was a rookie, I started pretty good and then struggled at the end. The next year, I had one of the worst years you’ve ever seen, so I haven’t really proved myself as an everyday guy yet.”

Towers floundered in the Orioles organization in 2002, going a combined 0-12 with an earned-run average just under 8.00 with Baltimore and Triple-A Rochester. He was 0-3 with a 7.90 ERA for Baltimore.

The 28-year-old right-hander went 8-1 with a 4.48 ERA with Toronto in 2003, but finished 9-9 with a 5.11 ERA last season.

Towers (4-1), Toronto’s fifth starter, allowed one run and seven hits, struck out five and walked one against Kansas City. He has allowed two runs in his last 222/3 innings, dropping his ERA to 3.12, and has given up two runs or fewer in five of seven starts.

“I’m getting older, a little smarter,” Towers said. “I’m definitely focused more.”

Toronto manager John Gibbons said Towers was throwing harder this year.

Kansas City pitcher Runelvys Hernandez wheels to throw out Toronto's Corey Koskie at first base. The Blue Jays beat the Royals, 6-1, Monday in Toronto.

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“He just keeps going out there and winning for us. He just knows how to win,” Gibbons said.

Russ Adams hit a two-run triple for the Blue Jays, who were swept in three of their previous four home series.

Joe McEwing drove in Kansas City’s run with an RBI grounder in the sixth. The Royals have lost six of seven, dropping to an AL-worst 8-24.

“We’re playing good baseball, but not enough to win,” Kansas City’s David DeJesus said. “Teams are putting up one big inning against us, and that’s putting us out of games.”

Royals starter Runelvys Hernandez (1-5) left because of a bruised right upper arm after he was struck by Corey Koskie’s liner in the fifth, then threw out Koskie and got the last two outs of the inning. But Hernandez didn’t come out for the sixth.

6Sports video: Royals lose to Toronto

Hernandez has lost five straight decisions after winning his first start. He gave up two runs and five hits.

“I felt OK. I wanted to keep going, but the ball hit me pretty good,” Hernandez said.

Toronto pitcher Josh Towers throws against Kansas City. The Blue Jays beat the Royals, 6-1, Monday in Toronto.

Alex Rios’ RBI grounder and Ken Huckaby’s run-scoring single gave Toronto a 2-0 lead in the second.

Kansas City’s John Buck led off the sixth with a single, advanced to third on David DeJusus’ double and scored on McEwing’s RBI grounder.

Toronto scored four runs in the bottom half on Adams’ two-run triple off Kyle Synder, Huckaby’s RBI grounder and Frank Catalanotto’s run-scoring double.

• Notes: The Blue Jays avoided matching their longest losing streak of the season. They lost five straight from April 20-24. … The Royals placed LHP Brian Anderson on the 15-day DL because of a sore left elbow. Anderson went 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in six games. The Royals replaced Anderson by recalling RHP Leo Nunez from Double-A Wichita. Nunez had a 8.31 ERA in eight games at Wichita. … Attendance was just 13,839.