Julio Rodriguez hit a run-scoring single into right field with two outs in the top of the 10th inning to break a tie and the Seattle Mariners went on to defeat the host Kansas City Royals 6-5 Sunday afternoon to avoid a three-game sweep.
With Josh Rojas the runner at second to open the 10th and the score tied at 3-3, the Mariners’ Ryan Bliss put down a sacrifice bunt. After J.P. Crawford struck out, Dylan Moore drew a walk to bring up Rodriguez, whose eighth-inning double gave him hits in all 16 career games against the Royals. Rodriguez grounded a single to right off James McArthur (2-3), scoring Rojas and sending Moore to third.
A walk to Mitch Garver loaded the bases for Cal Raleigh, who hit a two-run single to right to make it 6-3.
Hunter Renfroe led off the bottom of the 10th with a two-run homer to left off Austin Voth to score ghost runner Freddy Fermin, pulling the Royals within a run. Following a single by Matt Isbel, Voth got
Maikel Garcia to ground into a forceout and Bobby Witt Jr. to fly out to right before lefty Tayler Saucedo retired Vinnie Pasquantino on a groundout to second to earn his third save.
Mariners reliever Mike Baumann (3-0) was credited with the victory despite blowing a chance for his first career save in the ninth. With two outs, the Royals’ Nick Loftin doubled to right-center and MJ
Melendez hit the next pitch over the right-field wall to tie the score.
Crawford hit a leadoff homer in the first inning for a second consecutive day and Tyler Locklear, making his MLB debut, hit a run-scoring double in the seventh. Locklear’s contract was selected from Triple-A Tacoma earlier in the day when first baseman Ty France was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured right heel suffered when hit by a pitch Friday.
Seattle’s George Kirby and Kansas City’s Cole Ragans both made quality starts.
Kirby allowed one run on five hits over seven innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. Ragans gave up just one run on three hits in six innings, with one walk and nine strikeouts.
–Field Level Media