SEATTLE — Another extra-inning loss left the Seattle Mariners with a familiar feeling.
Alex Gordon threw out a runner at the plate in the 10th and scored on Salvador Perez's two-out double in the 12th to lift the Kansas City Royals over Seattle 6-5 on Monday night.
With their 21st extra-inning game, the Mariners matched the 1982 team record. They have lost 15, three more than the previous mark of 12 set in 1982. Seattle has dropped eight straight in extra innings, equaling last year's club.
"We had our opportunities and again we just didn't take advantage," manager Eric Wedge said. "So close and yet so far."
So far from .500, now at 68-89. So far from first place in the AL West, now 26 games behind. The Mariners are 19-29 in one-run games.
"We've been so close so many times in extra innings, in one-run games, two-run games," Wedge said. "The downside of that is you get your youth out there gaining experience and learning it the hard way. The upside is we are so close. One pitch away, one play away. Tonight was the perfect example of that."
Franklin Gutierrez and Michael Saunders hit consecutive homers in the eighth for Seattle off Luke Hochevar to tie it at 5.
Gordon saved the Royals in the 10th, when his one-hop throw to Perez from left field cut down Kyle Seager for an inning-ending double play.
"Alex Gordon's golden arm, and great tag play by Salvy," Royals manager Ned Yost said.
Greg Holland walked the first two batters in the 12th, then retired three straight to end it.
Kansas City moved within three games of idle Cleveland for the second AL wild card with six remaining. Texas is a game behind the Indians.
Gordon drew a leadoff walk from Lucas Luetge (1-3) in the top of the 12th and Emilio Bonifacio sacrificed. Eric Hosmer popped out before Johnny Giavotella walked.
Perez, who had three hits, sent the next pitch into the left-field corner. Gordon scored and Giavotella was thrown out at the plate.
Wade Davis (8-11) pitched two hitless innings for the win. Holland earned his 45th save in 48 chances to tie Dan Quisenberry (1983) and Jeff Montgomery (1993) for the club record.
Seager opened the 10th with a double off Francisley Bueno and went to third when right fielder Justin Maxwell bobbled the ball for an error. Kendrys Morales was intentionally walked before Davis took over and struck out Gutierrez.
Saunders was intentionally walked, loading the bases. Pinch-hitter Endy Chavez lifted a fly ball to left and Seager tagged up, but Gordon's throw to the plate was barely in time.
"Gordon took a couple steps back and I went for it and it didn't go our way, I guess," Seager said. "I thought we had done enough to win, but they battled back."
Perez said his first priority was to catch the ball.
"He put down a pretty good slide," Perez said. "I just put my glove on home plate and he touched my glove. The umpire was in a good position."
The Royals opened the scoring with two runs in the fourth off Brandon Maurer. Billy Butler had an RBI single and Hosmer scored when right fielder Abraham Almonte's throw to third sailed into the stands for an error.
Maurer gave up one earned run and four hits in seven innings.
Yordano Ventura, making his second big league start for the Royals, allowed one run and two hits in 5 2-3 innings. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out six, but three walks hastened his departure.
Kansas City rallied for three in the eighth to take a 5-3 lead.
Bonifacio tied it with an RBI single, and Gordon scored when Hosmer grounded into a fielder's choice. Seattle tried to turn an inning-ending double play, but a throwing error by second baseman Nick Franklin allowed Hosmer to reach second. Perez added an RBI single.
NOTES — Mariners LHP Joe Saunders, who lost 6-5 on Saturday to the Angels, is not expected to start again this season. "As of right now, that's what we're looking at," Wedge said. Saunders is 11-16 with a 5.26 ERA in 32 starts. ... Almonte has reached base safely in all 17 games to begin his major league career and has a hit in 15 of them. It's the second-longest such streak in club history.
