M’s produce a Royal sweep
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jamie Moyer doesn’t want his Seattle Mariners teammates getting too excited after sweeping the Kansas City Royals.
Moyer pitched seven strong innings for his 12th victory in 20 career decisions against the Royals as the Mariners completed a three-game sweep with a 10-2 win Thursday.
“We’ve played eight games,” he said. “It’s something to work off of and build off of, but it’s a long season.”
With the win, Seattle already matched the number of road sweeps it had all last season while going 25-55 away from home. And the Mariners’ team ERA is an impressive 3.33.
“We’re excited,” said Richie Sexson, who had an RBI double and a two-run homer. “This is a great series for us, a great way to start a road trip.”
The Royals, who scored five runs in the series, are getting consistent production only from Mike Sweeney.
Jeremy Reed had a three-run double in the six-run fourth for the Mariners, who hadn’t swept in Kansas City since Sept. 6-8, 2002.
“We got good pitching and we got some big hits,” Seattle manager Mike Hargrove said. “You combine all those, usually you come out on the good side.”
Moyer (2-0) gave up nine hits and two runs, with four strikeouts and one walk. He gave up a run in each of the first two innings, and then retired John Buck on a fly ball for the third out with the bases loaded in the third.
After that, he cruised.
“I felt pretty good on the mound,” he said. “It was just a matter of locating some pretty good pitches.”
Reed’s three-run double keyed a six-run fourth against rookie right-hander Denny Bautista (1-1). Sexson had an RBI double in the fourth and a two-run home run off reliever Mike Wood in the sixth.
Bautista, making his seventh major league start, went 3 1/3 innings and was charged with six runs on four hits, three walks and a strikeout.
“It seemed like (Bautista) didn’t have any feel for his fastball today, so he went to his breaking ball,” Royals manager Tony Pena said. “Sometimes you see pitchers changing like that, but not after only one inning. The first inning he’s throwing 95, 96, 98 (mph) and it seemed like they didn’t want any part of him. But then he just changed.”
The ball Sweeney hit for an RBI double in the first wasn’t in the strike zone, Hargrove said.
“He just went down and got it,” Hargrove said. “There’s nothing you can do but tip your hat to an at-bat like that.”
Bautista gave up a sacrifice fly to Randy Winn and an RBI single to Dan Wilson in the second.
In the fourth, Wilson Valdez hit a two-run double. Mike Wood relieved Bautista and walked Ichiro Suzuki intentionally to load the bases. Two pitches later, Reed’s bases-clearing double sailed into left-center. Sexson made it 8-2 with an RBI double.
Notes
Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre left the game in the fourth with tightness in his lower back, but manager Mike Hargrove said he expects him back for the next game. … Hargrove said four or five Seattle players had flu-like symptoms before the game.
M’s set to activate Pineiro
Seattle optioned infielder Justin Leone to Triple-A Tacoma and will activate pitcher Joel Pineiro from the disabled list.
Pineiro is scheduled to start tonight against the White Sox in Chicago. He has been slowed by stiffness in his right shoulder.