Royals sweep Mariners

SEATTLE – Alberto Callaspo turned his failed eighth-inning sacrifice bunt attempt into a three-run home run, lifting the Kansas City Royals to a comeback 7-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night.

Callaspo came up in the eighth with the Royals trailing 3-2 and runners on first and second. Reliever Brandon League (5-6) had walked the first two batters. Callaspo was unsuccessful twice in making contact on a sacrifice bunt.

That just set him up for a full-swing shot into the right-field seats on a 3-2 pitch, his eighth.

Victor Marte (3-0), who worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, earned the victory.

Joakim Soria entered the ninth with two on and no outs and retired the final three batters. He picked up his 25th save in 27 opportunities.

Soria has converted 18 straight opportunities, including all three saves in the series. It was the first time since June 12-14, 1995 that the Royals swept the Mariners in Seattle.

Casey Kotchman supplied all Seattle’s runs with a pair of home runs. In one game, Kotchman produced one-third of his season home run total. He now has six.

It also was Kotchman’s second career multiple home run game. His first was May 14, 2007 against Texas when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.

Mitch Maier had a solo shot for the Royals in the eighth, his third.

Billy Butler also hit his ninth home run in the ninth, one that had to be confirmed by the umpires through video replay.

The Royals’ three-homer game was their first since May 6.

Kansas City quickly created a run in the first inning. Jason Kendall drew a one-out walk and moved to third on David DeJesus’s single to right. He scored on Butler’s sac-fly to right.

Kotchman tied it with a two-out solo shot to right-center on Kyle Davies’ first pitch to him in the second.

The Mariners loaded the bases in the third with one out, but Jose Lopez hit a one-hopper to the mound for a 1-2-3 double play.

M’s starter Doug Fister struggled to find the plate early, walking a pair and throwing 47 pitches by the second inning. He was up to 91 pitches after just five innings. He went six innings and allowed six hits, exiting with a 3-1 lead.

Royals 7, Mariners 3