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Seattle Mariners

Out of Right Field: Recap, takeaways from the Mariners’ 13-5 victory against the Kansas City Royals

The Mariners’ Edwin Encarnacion hits a three-run homer off Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Kevin McCarthy during the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 8, 2019. It was the second home run of the inning for Encarnacion. (Orlin Wagner / Associated Press)
By Gene Warnick For The Spokesman-Review

Edwin Encarnacion hit two home runs in the sixth inning, becoming the fifth player to do so twice in a career, as the Mariners defeated the host Kansas City Royals 13-5 Monday night.

Encarnacion, who also accomplished the feat while playing for Toronto against Houston on July 26, 2013, joined Alex Rodriguez, Jeff King, Andre Dawson and Willie McCovey in the twice-in-one-inning club.

Dylan Moore, Daniel Vogelbach and Jay Bruce also homered for the Mariners, who broke a 4-4 tie with eight runs in the sixth inning.

Of note

M’s starter Felix Hernandez was pulled after allowing two runs on three hits in the first inning. The team said Hernandez suffered from virus-like symptoms. .. LF Domingo Santana went 3 for 5 with a double and four RBIs, giving him 19 this season to tie the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clay Bellinger for the most in the majors. … LHP Roenis Elias pitched three innings of hitless relief to get the victory.

By the numbers

32: The number of home runs the Mariners have hit through 12 games, a major-league record. They didn’t hit their 32nd last season until their 26th game.

Our take from right field

These Mariners continue to slug their way to victory. It doesn’t seem to matter if they’re facing the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox or the lowly Royals, these guys can rake. Hernandez suffered from the first-inning blues that plagued him last season, but this one can apparently be explained away by a virus.

Up next

The Mariners will continue their four-game series at 5:15 Tuesday in Kansas City. LHP Marco Gonzales (3-0, 3.20 ERA), the former Gonzaga standout, is set to face Royals RHP Jakob Junis (1-0, 4.63).