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Seattle Mariners

Mariners Log: M’s run away from Royals in win

Kansas City’s Whit Merrifield scores on a wild pitch by Seattle Mariners starting pitcher James Paxton, left, during the sixth inning. (Orlin Wagner / Associated Press)
By Dave Nichols daven@spokesman.com(509) 459-5441

PAXTON EARNS SEVENTH STRAIGHT WIN, TYING TEAM RECORD

What happened: Jarrod Dyson went 2 for 4 with a run, RBI and stolen base and the Seattle Mariners topped the Kansas City Royals 5-2 in the second of a four-game series at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on Friday.

Dyson had an RBI single in a three-run seventh, then stole a base and eventually came around to score. The Mariners stole three bases in the inning after Royals catcher Salvador Perez left the game due to an undisclosed reason.

Jean Segura went 2 for 4 with two runs and Danny Valencia drove in two without the benefit of a base hit.

Starter James Paxton (12-3) didn’t give up a hit until the fifth inning. He ended up allowing two runs on four hits and a walk with seven strikeouts over six innings.

Robinson Cano’s first-inning double was the 500th of his career. That ties him with John Olerud and Goose Goslin for 61st all-time. Cano joins four other active players with 500: Albert Pujols, Adrian Beltre, Carlos Beltran and Miguel Cabrera.

Line Outs

  • M’s went to work right in the first inning. Ben Gamel extended a hitless streak to 0 for 17, but Jean Segura legged out an infield single and Robinson Cano connected for his 500th career double. Danny Valencia lofted a fly to just shy of the track in right which plated Segura easily.
  • Paxton cruised through the fourth allowing just one walk. He gave up hit first hit, a ground ball single through the right side by Mike Moustakas, with one down in the fifth. Moustakas moved up to second on a wild pitch, then went to third on a groundout. Brandon Moss’ flare to left plated Moustakas to tie the game.
  • The run ended Paxton’s scoreless innings streak at 21, which was the longest active streak in the bigs.
  • The Royals took the lead in the sixth. Whit Merrifield led off with a double and went to third on a Lorenzo Cain single. A passed ball allowed Cain to move up. Paxton got two outs, but with Salvador Perez hitting, a breaking ball in the dirt got away from Mike Zunino, and when Paxton couldn’t handle the relay from his catcher, Merrifield slid home with the go-ahead run.
  • Perez came out of the game in the top of the seventh and it made an immediate impact. With one down, Kyle Seager singled, then stole second. Guillermo Heredia doubled and Seager scored. K.C. lifted Hammel and turned to Ryan Buchter.
  • OF Jarrod Dyson singled to drive in Heredia, then he stole second, his 26th. Leonys Martin followed with a single to plate Dyson for a 4-2 lead. Martin stole second, but Gamel ended the inning with a strikeout.
  • Segura led off the eighth with a triple and scored on Valencia’s sacrifice fly.

The Takeaway

The M’s have split the first two of four with the Royals, the team they are chasing down for the second wildcard spot. You had to figure Paxton gave them their best chance of securing a win after dropping a very winnable game on Thursday. Dyson has been all over the place the past two games in his return to Kauffman Stadium.

Tweet of the Day

Players of the Game

Hero: James Paxton. The Big Maple came through again. He’s really putting together a remarkable season.

Goat: Mike Zunino. 0 for 4, two Ks. Passed ball, two wild pitches. Not a great game.

Next Game

Seattle Mariners (56-55) at Kansas City Royals (56-52) on Saturday at 5:15 p.m. at Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City. RHP Felix Hernandez (5-4, 4.28) faces LHP Danny Duffy (7-6, 3.42)

What others are saying (and writing)

Is there any doubt the Mariners’ ace is Paxton? He tied the franchise record with his seventh consecutive victory. … The former ace, Hernandez, went on the disabled list today. Hopefully, he won’t be joined there by Nelson Cruz, who sat out Friday with a spasm in his neck. … Utilityman Shawn O’Malley is healthy again. He was activated off the disabled list and sent to Tacoma. … Royals’ catcher Sal Perez had to leave last night’s game with an injury.