Mariners 11, Royals 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Robinson Cano homered twice and Hisashi Iwakuma pitched seven shutout innings as the Seattle Mariners ripped the Kansas City Royals 11-2 on Tuesday night.
The Mariners hit five home runs, scoring all their runs in the first four innings.
Iwakuma (9-4) checked the Royals on three singles before being pulled after seven innings and 92 pitches. He struck out a season-high 10 and walked one.
It was Cano's second two-homer game of the season. His other was July 18 against the New York Yankees. Cano homered in his first two at-bats, while driving in four runs.
The Royals avoided scored an unearned run in the eighth off rookie right-hander Tony Zych. Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar, who singled, scored after an error on shortstop Ketel Marte. Jonny Gomes struck out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Escobar's single in the ninth scored right fielder Alex Rios, who had doubled, for the other Kansas City run.
The Mariners won eight of their past nine road games, while the AL Central-leading Royals opened their final regular season homestand of the year with a defeat and have lost eight of their past 12.
The Mariners punished Royals right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, who was making his first start since Aug. 18.
Guthrie was yanked after 2 2/3 innings, allowing nine runs, eight earned, on nine hits, four of them home runs.
Third baseman Kyle Seager and Cano blasted solo shots in the first inning. Seager's home run was his 25th. He and Nelson Cruz (42) become the first Mariners to hit 25 or more home runs in a season since Russell Branyan (31) and Jose Lopez (26) in 2009.
Cano homered, his 19th, with Seager and designated hitter Nelson Cruz aboard in the seven-run third.
The inning also included a Brad Miller homer, which finished Guthrie's brief night. Ketel Marte tripled and left fielder Franklin Gutierrez doubled as the Mariners hit for the cycle in the third.
Rookie right-hander Miguel Almonte, who replaced Guthrie, served up a homer to first baseman Jesus Montero with two out in the fourth after right fielder Seth Smith walked, pushing the Mariners lead to 11-0. Montero's home run was his third in 10 career games against the Royals.
NOTES: Royals manager Ned Yost announced RHP Wade Davis will be his closer for the rest of the season and the playoffs, replacing two-time All-Star RHP Greg Holland, who has been battling elbow tightness and has been inconsistent. ... An MRI detected that Royals 2B Omar Infante has a Grade 1-plus oblique strain. He will probably be out two-to-four weeks. ... Mariners 1B Logan Morrison was not with the club, and was with his wife for the Tuesday birth of their first child, Sophia. Jesus Montero started at first. ... Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez said he would not miss a start after leaving in the sixth inning Sunday with a tender elbow. ... Mariners LHP Roenis Elias and Royals RHP Yordano Ventura are the probable starting pitchers for Wednesday's game.