Royals offense storms back to steal series split from Mariners with 3-2 win

By MATT PIKE

The Kansas City Royals trailed for most of the game, but came up big in the seventh inning to earn a series split with the Seattle Mariners, avoiding wasting a quality start by Seth Lugo, winning 3-2 on Thursday night at T-Mobile Park.

Jorge Polanco hit a solo home run for the Mariners in the fourth inning, giving Seattle a 1-0 lead, a lead which they would hold until the seventh inning.  The Royals did threaten in the sixth, after Salvador Perez doubled and John Rave walked, but Nick Loftin flew out to end that threat, setting Kansas City up to take the lead the very next inning. 

In the seventh, after Freddy Fermin lined out to open the inning, Kyle Isbel and Jonathan India got back to back walks bringing Bobby Witt Jr to the plate as the Mariners brought on reliever Carlos Vargas.  Witt Jr greeted Vargas with a single into center field, tying the game up driving in Isbel and moving India to third.  After Witt Jr stole second base, his 24th stolen base of the season, Vinnie Pasquantino singled into right field bringing home India and also Witt Jr as the Royals star shortstop made a sliding play at home plate, swimming around the catcher to avoid the tag to score. 

In the bottom of the ninth inning, against Royals closer Carlos Estévez, Dominic Canzone hit a solo home run to cut the lead to one.  Miles Mastrobuoni pinch hit and got a single, and after Estévez struckout Cole Young, J.P Crawford singled, putting the closer in danger.  Mastrobuoni and Crawford both moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, but Estévez struck out Julio Rodriguez and then got Cal Raleigh to groundout to end the game, earning his 24th save. 

Lugo earned the win, improving to 6-5 on the season, pitching 6 1/3 innings and giving up one run on six hits, striking out seven and walking two.  At the plate, Witt Jr. was 1-for-5 with a stolen base and an RBI while Pasquantino was 1-for-4 with two RBI’s as Kansas City had just five hits. 

Kansas City now travels to Arizona for a weekend series, starting with an Independence Day matchup.  Kris Bubic (6-6, 2.25 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals in the opener against Eduardo Rodriguez (3-4, 5.13 ERA) for the Diamondbacks.  First pitch is at 8:40pm, pregame begins at 8 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.