Gibbons prefers bats don't rely on homers

KANSAS CITY -- It's not only how you play, but where you play that makes a difference in various statistical categories. The Blue Jays started their series against the Royals with a 30-10 differential in home runs, but manager John Gibbons said that huge gap speaks mainly to the difference in home ballparks.

"[Kauffman Stadium] is a tough park to hit home runs in, I don't care who you are," Gibbons said.

While it's easier to hit homers at Rogers Centre, Gibbons doesn't want his club to become too reliant on the long ball to generate offense. New hitting coach Kevin Seitzer stresses hitting the ball up the middle or going the other way and Gibbons said that's an approach that can benefit the Blue Jays over the long haul.

"When you get into games against the better pitchers, you need other ways to beat those guys," Gibbons said. "They aren't going to give up a lot of home runs. There are times to take the little simple base hit up the middle or go the other way to beat the good ones."

Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion went deep in Tuesday's 10-7 loss to the Royals. Bautista hit a solo shot in the first off starter Jason Vargas, while Encarnacion scored Bautista with a two-run blast in the ninth off reliever Louis Coleman.