Vargas takes command as Mariners defeat Royals

SEATTLE – For Jason Vargas, the 2011 season has been a mixture of impressive highs (three complete-game shutouts) and forgettable lows (he lasted just five innings in his last start, allowing five runs, four earned).

He didn’t finish with a shutout Thursday, but his performance was good enough to place in the impressive column.

After going 1-8 with a 6.49 earned-run average in his past 11 starts, the 28-year-old left-hander found his command, shutting down Kansas City and helping the Mariners claim a 4-1 victory in front of 14,377 at Safeco Field.

The Mariners didn’t generate much offense, but Vargas needed little support. In fact, when Ichiro opened the Mariners’ half of the first with a leadoff home run to right field – it was the 36th leadoff home run of Ichiro’s career, breaking a tie with Bobby Bonds for sixth place all-time – it looked like one run might be enough.

It wasn’t, but Justin Smoak’s two-run blast to right field in the sixth inning proved to be plenty.

Vargas pitched well, but his defense helped him out. In the second inning, after Jeff Francoeur drove a one-out triple to left field just beyond of the glove of Mike Carp, who attempted to make a sliding catch, Mike Moustakas hit a sharp grounder right at Dustin Ackley. The second baseman fired home to get Francoeur at the plate, one-hopping the ball into catcher Chris Gimenez’s glove at chest level, getting the out and saving a run.

After the second inning, Vargas didn’t allow another base runner until he walked Moustakas with one out in the fifth. The Royals tied the game in the sixth on Eric Hosmer’s two-out RBI single, but Vargas finished the inning before leaving the game. He allowed one run on four hits, picking up his first win since Aug. 10.

Smoak picked a good time to hit his first home run since June 12, breaking up a tie game and providing a lead the Mariners wouldn’t give back. They added a run in the seventh after Ichiro singled, stole second, swiped third and scored on shortstop Alcides Escobar’s throwing error.

Royals starter Luke Hochevar gave up the home runs to Ichiro and Smoak, but kept the Mariners quiet much of the night. When he did get into a jam – Adam Kennedy hit a one-out, ground-rule double in the second and Carp hit a leadoff double in the fourth – he got out of trouble via the strikeout, fanning nine over 6 2/3 innings. He allowed four runs – three earned.

E – A.Escobar (15), Ryan (15). LOB – Kansas City 7, Seattle 6. 2B – Carp (14), A.Kennedy (23). 3B – Francoeur (4). HR – I.Suzuki (4), Smoak (13). RBIs – Hosmer (67), I.Suzuki (37), Smoak 2 (47). SB – Me.Cabrera (18), Hosmer (10), I.Suzuki 2 (37), Ryan (10). RLSP – Kansas City 3, Seattle 4. RMU – Seager.

IR-S – Collins 2-0. IBB – Francoeur. T – 2:33. A – 14,377 (47,878).