Big inning lifts Mariners

PEORIA, Ariz. – Back from Japan, the Seattle Mariners needed a few innings on the field to brush off the jetlag and snap out of their slumber.

Miguel Olivo and Kyle Seager hit consecutive home runs during a six-run sixth inning and Seattle rallied past the Kansas City Royals 6-4 Sunday in its first game since opening the regular season at Tokyo Dome.

The Mariners split two midweek games against Oakland in Japan, and their regulars hadn’t played since Thursday. Given two days to get readjusted back in the United States, players nevertheless acknowledged they were still a bit sluggish.

Munenori Kawasaki had three hits for the Mariners, who used six projected starters. He had two hits in the sixth inning alone.

Olivo’s three-run homer tied it at 4. Seager, batting .357, followed with his fourth home run of the spring.

“I did some work this offseason to try to use my hips and my shoulders a little bit more,” Seager said. “It’s just spring training and everything, but it feels good to be able to drive the ball a little more.”

Two walks later, Kawasaki singled in a run for his second hit of the inning.

“In that inning, we all woke up and we started to hit,” Olivo said, adding that it felt like early morning to him.

Seattle’s Blake Beavan made his last start of spring training and is next scheduled to pitch April 10 in Texas in his regular-season debut. He allowed four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.