Royals 4, Mariners 3, 10 innings
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Lorenzo Cain's third hit turned out to be the game-winner as the Kansas City Royals came from behind to top the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in 10 innings.
Cain's single scored pinch runner Paulo Orlando. Orlando was running for Alex Gordon, who ended an 0-for-22 slump, with a one-out single in the 10th. Ben Zobrist was hit by a pitch before Cain delivered the game-winning hit.
Wade Davis (8-1) claimed the victory, while David Rollins (0-2) took the loss.
Jarrod Dyson's sacrifice fly in the ninth scored Cain with the tying run to send the game into extra innings.
The Royals, who have not won a division championship since 1985, dropped their magic number to two to claim the AL Central.
Left-hander Roenis Elias, who gave up seven runs on five hits, including a home run, and a walk in 3 2/3 innings in a June 24 loss to the Royals, stymied the Royals on four hits and a run over 5 1/3 innings in the rematch.
Ketel Marte, who made his big league debut on July 31, went 3-for-4 to hike his hitting streak to 11 games, a career best, and drove in two Seattle runs.
The game also featured Robinson Cano picking up career hit No. 2,000 with an eighth inning single off Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera.
Royals starter Yordano Ventura allowed three runs, all in the fifth inning, on six hits and a walk, while striking out four.
First baseman Eric Hosmer singled home center fielder Lorenzo Cain in the seventh.
Both teams stranded a runner at second base in the first inning.
Marte led off the game with a single and advanced to second on designated hitter Nelson Cruz's groundout but went no farther.
In the bottom of the first, Zobrist doubled down the left-field line with one out and advanced to third on Cain's flyout to right but was left there when first baseman Eric Hosmer grounded out.
The Royals threatened again in the second. Designated hitter Kendrys Morales began the inning with a walk and moved to second when third baseman Mike Moustakas singled to right. Elias recovered and struck out catcher Salvador Perez and right fielder Alex Rios before retiring shortstop Alcides Escobar on a popup.
The Royals broke through with a run in the fourth. Rios' sacrifice fly to left scored Morales, who started the inning with a single and stopped at third when Perez laced a double to center.
NOTES: Mariners 1B Logan Morrison rejoined the club after being with his wife for the birth of the couple's first child Tuesday in Seattle. "I thought hitting homers was the coolest thing, but that's a little cooler," Morrison said of holding his daughter for the first time. ... Royals manager Ned Yost has yet to name his Sunday starter against the Indians. He said the candidates are RHPs Chris Young, September call-up Miguel Almonte and Jeremy Guthrie. ... RHP Felix Hernandez, who left his start Sunday with elbow tightness, will start Saturday against the Angels. ... Mariners LHP James Paxton and Royals RHP Johnny Cueto are the probables for the series finale Thursday.