Mariners 4, Royals 1
Justin Smoak hit a tiebreaking two-run homer to help the Seattle Mariners record a 4-1 victory over the visiting Kansas City Royals on Thursday.
Jason Vargas (8-13) allowed one run and four hits over six innings to win for just the second time in 10 decisions as Seattle took the opener of a four-game series between two of the American League’s worst teams.
Dustin Ackley drew a leadoff walk in the sixth and Smoak hit his first homer since June 12 off Luke Hochevar (10-11) one out later to give the Mariners a 3-1 lead.
Seattle took a 1-0 lead in the first when Ichiro Suzuki hit the 36th leadoff homer of his career. Ichiro broke a tie with Bobby Bonds and now has the sixth-most leadoff blasts in baseball history.
Kansas City tied the score in the top of the sixth on Eric Hosmer’s run-scoring single.
Ichiro manufactured a run in the seventh when he singled with two out, stole second and third and scored when Kansas City shortstop Alcides Escobar made a throwing error on Brendan Ryan’s grounder.
Brandon League retired Salvador Perez on a grounder with two on in the ninth for his 34th save.
Hochevar struck out a season-high nine and allowed four runs (three earned) and six hits in 6 2/3 innings.