Mariners 6, Royals 4
Kendrys Morales hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift Seattle past host Kansas City.
Franklin Gutierrez drew a one-out walk from Aaron Crow (7-5) and, one out later, Morales hit a shot over the center-field fence for his 18th homer to give the Mariners their fourth win in 13 games. The Royals lost for just the third time in 11 contests to fall 5 1/2 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the American League’s second wild-card spot.
Lucas Luetge (1-2) worked two hitless innings for Seattle and Danny Farquhar pitched the ninth for his 12th save in 15 opportunities.
Seattle jumped out to a 4-0 lead as Brad Miller and Gutierrez each drove in a run in the third inning, and Nick Franklin had an RBI single in the fourth before Dustin Ackley scored on a wild pitch by Royals reliever Wade Davis.
Kansas City responded with four in the bottom of the fourth on Billy Butler’s single, Salvador Perez’s sacrifice fly and Jarrod Dyson’s two-run base hit.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Seattle scored more than three runs for just the third time in its last 13 games. … Royals 2B Chris Getz missed the contest and was slated to undergo concussion tests after leaving Tuesday’s game with dizziness and stomach discomfort. … Kansas City starter Ervin Santana lasted just 3 1/3 innings as he gave up four runs and seven hits. Seattle’s Taijuan Walker allowed four runs and four hits over five frames in his second major-league start.