KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Justin Smoak and Michael Saunders each hit two-run homers and the Seattle Mariners beat the Kansas City Royals 9-6 Tuesday night.
Every Mariners starter had at least one hit. Jesus Montero went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs.
Smoak homered with Montero aboard in the three-run first inning. It was the second straight game Smoak homered in the first. Montero’s double scored Casper Wells with the first run.
Saunders homered in the fifth inning off Vin Mazzaro after Miguel Olivo singled.
The Mariners scored three more runs in the second inning to chase left-hander Ryan Verdugo, who was making his big league debut. Kyle Seager doubled home two runs, while Montero singled in the other run.
Blake Beaven (4-6), who was just recalled from Triple-A Tacoma, worked six-plus innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. He logged his first victory since May 30 after going 0-2 with a 15.43 ERA in two June starts, which merited a demotion to the Pacific Coast League.
Verdugo (0-1) yielded six runs on eight hits and two walks in 1 2-3 innings.
Tim Wilhelmsen worked a spotless ninth for his eighth save in 10 opportunities. Wilhelmsen has not allowed a run in 23 innings over his past 19 games.
Lorenzo Cain hit a two-run pinch-hit homer in the seventh off Mariners reliever Shawn Kelley to cut the lead to 9-6.
Jarrod Dyson and Alex Gordon hit back-to-back triples in Kansas City’s three-run third.
The Royals have lost 12 of 15 to fall a season-low 13 games below .500. They are 15-27 at Kauffman Stadium, the worst home record in the majors.