Royals Snap Skid with 6-3 Win Over Mariners Behind Perez’s Key Double
SEATTLE — Salvador Perez delivered a game-changing two-run double in the fifth inning as the Kansas City Royals topped the Seattle Mariners 6-3 on Tuesday night, securing just their second victory in their last 10 games.
Perez's fly ball off Seattle starter Emerson Hancock (3-5) appeared routine, but Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez lost it in the twilight. Initially attempting to rob a potential home run, Rodríguez misread the ball’s trajectory, allowing it to bounce off the wall and bring in two runs, extending Kansas City’s lead to 5-1.
Seattle responded in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI double from Ben Williamson, who later scored on a J.P. Crawford single off Royals starter Michael Lorenzen. But the Royals' bullpen was lights-out the rest of the way, combining for 4 1/3 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief. Lucas Erceg (3-2) entered in the seventh and shut down a potential rally with a double play and a groundout, while Carlos Estévez closed it out with a perfect ninth inning for his 23rd save of the season.
Kansas City struck early, taking a 3-0 lead behind Maikel Garcia’s RBI single in the first and a two-run second that featured an RBI double from Nick Loftin. Loftin later scored on a fielder’s choice from Kyle Isbel.
Seattle’s Randy Arozarena homered in the second — his 11th of the year and third in his last four at-bats.
Turning PointThe seventh inning offered Seattle a chance to claw back when Angel Zerpa walked Dylan Moore to lead off. But Cole Young grounded into a double play and Crawford followed with a groundout, ending the threat.
Stat of the NightSalvador Perez moved past Alex Gordon into sixth place on the Royals’ all-time hits list with his 1,646th hit.
On DeckThe series continues Wednesday as Seattle’s Logan Gilbert (2-2, 3.55 ERA) faces Kansas City’s Noah Cameron (2-4, 2.79 ERA) in Game 3 of the four-game set.