Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Luke Hochevar throws in the second inning. Hochevar picked up his first career major league win as Kansas City defeated Toronto, 2-1, on Saturday in Kansas City, Mo. The Royals won their second game in a row behind Hochevar's six innings and three strikeouts.

Kansas City, Mo. ? Luke Hochevar picked up his first big league win in just his third career start, but he’s already sounding like a wily veteran giving all the credit to the guys playing behind him.

“I can’t stand here and say I pitched a good game,” Hochevar said. “We played unbelievable defense. With the type of pitcher I am, I need a good defense. I try to induce contact and get ground balls. With a defense this good, it makes it very easy to do so.”

Jose Guillen provided the power, hitting his first home run at Kauffman Stadium with the Royals, and Tony Pena Jr. made a game-saving defensive play as Kansas City edged the Toronto Blue Jays, 2-1, Saturday night.

“You dream of that since you’re a little kid,” said Hochevar, who was given the game ball and lineup card. “To get the first one is pretty surreal.”

Pena, who committed an error in the fifth that led to the only Blue Jays run, made a defensive gem in the eighth. With the bases loaded and two out, Adam Lind hit a grounder deep into the hole at shortstop. Pena threw out Lind from his knees by a half step.

“To get a chance to make that play in the eighth was very important to me,” Pena said. “I feel very comfortable throwing the ball to first, right there. I know I could have gotten him out. I just went with my instincts.

“The grass is a little wet and I just slipped. I tried to stop as soon as possible and get some momentum throwing to first. You know it’s the most important play at that point.”

Pena called it one of the best defensive plays of his career.

“That was at a pretty crucial time,” catcher John Buck said. “If he throws it away, that’s probably two runs. If he doesn’t get it, it is tied up and the rally is still going. For him, just to knock the ball down in the hole where he did was an impressive play. For him to throw it like that was all more impressive.”

Hochevar, the first selection in the 2006 draft, held Toronto to six hits and one run in six innings in his seventh big league appearance. He struck out three.

“Fate loves the fearless, so I wanted to come out and pound the strike zone,” Hochevar said.