Royals 8, Mariners 2
SEATTLE -- The Kansas City Royals bounced back from a complete-game shutout to shell the Seattle Mariners 8-2 on Wednesday night.
Kansas City (41-28) used a seven-run fourth inning to jump out to a big lead in left-handed starter Danny Duffy's first game off the disabled list. Duffy only allowed one earned run over 4 2/3 innings but wasn't part of the decision.
Reliever Ryan Madson (1-1) earned the win after pitching 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas hit a two-run home run, while second baseman Omar Infante and shortstop Alcides Escobar had three hits apiece as Kansas City piled up 13 for the game. Infante had a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning to break the game open.
All five hits and seven runs charged to Seattle starter Roenis Elias (4-5) came in the fourth inning.
Seattle (33-40) had nine hits in the loss but was held to two runs or fewer for the 13th time in 23 games played this month. The Mariners finished their eight-game homestand against playoff contenders San Francisco, Houston and Kansas City with a 4-4 record.
The eight runs were the most scored by the Royals since they beat Milwaukee on June 17. Kansas City has had 10 or more hits in eight of its past 10 games.
After Seattle starter Roenis Elias retired Kansas City's first nine batters in order through the first three innings, the Royals erupted for six hits while sending 11 players to the plate in a seven-run fourth.
Third baseman Mike Moustakas gave Kansas City a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run, his seventh of the season, then Royals added three more runs on a triple by second baseman Omar Infante. Center fielder Jarrod Dyson, the ninth batter in the inning, drove in Infante for a 6-0 lead to chase Elias from the mound. Shortstop Alcides Escobar added his second hit of the inning, and the Royals' third double in a row, with an RBI double off reliever Vidal Nuno to give Kansas City a 7-0 lead.
In 3 2/3 innings -- the second time in three starts that the left-hander has failed to make it out of the fourth -- Elias allowed five hits and seven earned runs, all of it coming in the fourth inning.
With the fourth-inning homer, Moustakas extended his hitting streak to nine games, the longest current stretch on the team.
Seattle finally got on the board on a sacrifice fly from veteran outfielder Franklin Gutierrez, called up from Triple-A earlier in the day to make his 2015 debut, in the fifth.
Kansas City starter Danny Duffy, making his first start since May 16 after being activated from the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day, allowed eight hits and two runs, one earned, in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four without issuing a walk but did not factor into the decision because he didn't make it through the required five innings.
NOTES: Royals CF Lorenzo Cain was not in the lineup due to what manager Ned Yost called a "very slight" hamstring injury. Yost added that Cain should be back in action for Friday's series opener in Oakland. ... Kansas City LHP Danny Duffy was activated from the 15-day disabled list so he could start Wednesday's game. To make room for Duffy, the Royals optioned RHP Michael Mariot to Triple-A Omaha. ... Seattle called up OF Franklin Gutierrez, giving the 32-year-old right-handed hitter another shot after his career was nearly derailed by a series of injuries. The Mariners optioned OF James Jones to Triple-A Tacoma. ... Kansas City RHP Yordano Ventura (ulnar neuritis) is scheduled to make a rehab start for Triple-A Omaha on Friday. ... Both the Royals and Mariners have Thursday off. Seattle begins a 10-day trip with a three-game series that starts Friday in Anaheim.