KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Adam Frazier hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning as the Kansas City Royals snapped the Seattle Mariners’ 10-game winning streak with a 7-5 victory on Wednesday night.
Eugenio Suarez ended an 0-for-32 slump with a breakout performance for Seattle, recording four hits, two RBIs, and two runs. Despite Suarez’s efforts, the Mariners fell a half-game behind the Houston Astros in the AL West following Houston’s win.
Lucas Erceg (8-4) earned the win for Kansas City, even after giving up the lead on J.P. Crawford’s homer in the eighth inning. Carlos Estevez allowed a ninth-inning run but secured his Major League Baseball-best 40th save of the season.
Seattle’s Matt Brash (1-3) struggled, allowing four runs and four hits in just two-thirds of an inning. Cole Ragans, making his first start for Kansas City since June 5 after recovering from a strained left rotator cuff, pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on one hit while striking out four and issuing two walks. Ragans started strong, throwing his first six pitches for strikes and striking out the side on 10 pitches in the first inning.
On the mound for Seattle, Bryce Miller allowed three runs on eight hits across five innings.
The game’s early scoring came from Royals’ Salvador Perez, who blasted a 435-foot, three-run home run to center field in the first inning. Suarez responded quickly for the Mariners with a 416-foot, two-run homer in the second, trimming the deficit to 3-2.
Seattle tied the game in the seventh when Suarez led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Mitch Garver.
The pivotal moment arrived in the eighth inning when Frazier’s home run put Kansas City back in front after the Mariners briefly took the lead earlier in the inning.
Statistically, the Royals capitalized well with runners in scoring position, going 5-for-13, while the Mariners were unable to reach base in similar situations, going 0-for-4.
Looking ahead, the two teams will conclude their three-game series on Thursday. Seattle is set to start right-hander Luis Castillo (9-8, 3.76 ERA), while Kansas City will counter with right-hander Stephen Kolek (5-5, 3.71 ERA).
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AP MLB: David Smale, The Associated Press.
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/royals-score-four-eighth-snap-024402150.html