Mariners come up short at K.C.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Luke Hochevar gave up one hit in seven innings and Jeff Francoeur homered and drove in three runs to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 6-5 on a rainy Friday night for their fifth victory in six games. Ichiro Suzuki led off the game with a double, the only hit Hochevar (2-1) would allow. Ichiro advanced to third on a Milton Bradley ground out and scored on Jack Cust’s fielder’s choice grounder. The Mariners did not get another base runner until Rodriguez doubled in the eighth off reliever Blake Wood. Hochevar, the first player picked in the 2006 draft, retired 16 in a row after walking Luis Rodriguez with two out in the second before exiting after seven innings and 100 pitches. Francoeur homered in the third after Billy Butler doubled. Francouer’s infield single in the first scored Chris Getz, who led off the inning with a walk. Mariners left-hander Erik Bedard (0-3), who missed all of last season after having his third shoulder surgery in as many years and has not won since June 7, 2009, took the loss. He gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings. He walked three and struck out six. Matt Treanor led off the fourth with a home run, giving the Royals a 4-1 lead. Bedard has given up six home runs in 13 2-3 innings in three starts. The Royals added a run in the fifth when Mike Aviles double scored Francoeur, who had singled. Butler, who also had three hits, contributed a run-producing single in the sixth for the final Kansas City run. Ichiro also had a RBI-single in the eighth, giving him a record 10 consecutive multi-hit games at Kauffman Stadium. Royals Hall of Famer George Brett held the record with nine straight multihit games at Kaufman Stadium in May, 1979. After rookie left-hander Tim Collins walked the first two Mariners in the ninth, Joakim Soria was summoned and logged his fourth save in five opportunities, but not before allowing three runs, including walking pinch hitter Justin Smoak with the bases loaded.