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Sanchez shelled as Mariners top Royals

Jul 17, 2012 - 3:35 AM Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Kansas City pitcher Jonathan Sanchez's nightmare 2012 continued, as the Seattle Mariners shelled the left-hander and took the opener of a four-game set, 9-4.

The Mariners chased Sanchez (1-6) after 1 1/3 innings and seven runs. Sanchez, who won his first start of the season, has now lost six straight decisions and has seen his earned run average rise to 7.76.

Casper Wells did the most significant damage for Seattle. Wells blasted a three-run home run in the first and a two-run triple in the second, which ended Sanchez's night.

Justin Smoak and Dustin Ackley homered for the Mariners, who have won two of their last three.

Jason Vargas (9-7) picked up the win after allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings. Since allowing 10 runs against the Diamondbacks on June 20, Vargas is 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA.

Vargas did give up a long ball for the 12th straight start, as Billy Butler and Salvador Perez took Vargas deep. Vargas has allowed a major league-worst 25 home runs this season.

The Mariners wasted no time getting to Sanchez, posting five runs before Sanchez could record an out. Ackley worked a leadoff walk and Ichiro singled before Wells belted a first-pitch changeup out to left-center field. Montero followed with a base hit and Smoak rocked a first-pitch fastball out to left field, giving Seattle a five-run lead.

Brendan Ryan and Ackley started the second inning with a pair of singles. Two batters later, Wells laced a two-run triple into right-center field to make it 7-0.

Kansas City put three runs on the board with a pair of bombs in the third. Perez led off with a homer and, after Eric Hosmer worked a two-out walk, Butler crushed a no-doubter down the left-field line.

Ichiro, who went 2-for-5 in the game, got the M's a run back in the following inning when he tripled home Munenori Kawasaki.

Ackley added a solo shot in the sixth to give Seattle a 9-3 lead.

Alex Gordon, Alcides Escobar and Homer strung together two-out singles in the seventh to cap the scoring.

Game Notes

In six starts at Kauffman Stadium, Sanchez is 0-2 with a 10.95 ERA (27 earned runs in 22 2/3 innings)...Ichiro has hit .370 (80-for-216) with 34 runs and 32 RBI in 53 games at Kauffman Stadium...Seattle has scored eight or more runs in in five of his last 11 starts. The Mariners scored eight runs once in his previous 50 starts.