Mariners 2 - 1 Royals
Final
  for this game

Mariners edge Royals on Ackley single

Jun 22, 2014 - 12:16 AM Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Dustin Ackley's tie-breaking RBI single in the top of the ninth inning lifted the Seattle Mariners to a 2-1 decision over the Kansas City Royals in the middle contest of a three-game set at Kauffman Stadium.

Kyle Seager doubled into the right-center field gap with two outs in the ninth and Stefen Romero followed with a base hit after Royals second baseman Pedro Ciriaco couldn't handle the liner. After two close foul balls down the right- field line, Ackley smacked a single to left off Jason Vargas (7-3) to put the Mariners ahead.

"If you want to have a good winning season you have to win games like this," said Seager.

Yoervis Medina (4-1) got the win after pitching a clean eighth inning, taking over for Seattle starter Chris Young, who allowed just one run on three hits in seven innings.

Cole Gillespie drove in the other run for Seattle, which has won five of its last seven contests.

Vargas was the tough-luck loser as he tossed an impressive 8 2/3 innings. He yielded two runs on 10 hits in his first loss since May 19.

Alex Gordon's solo homer was the lone run for the Royals, who have dropped three straight since a 10-game winning streak.

"We've dropped two tough ones," said Royals first baseman Billy Butler. "We got to come out here tomorrow and take one before they leave to start fresh."

Seattle used three singles to start the third inning and open up the scoring. Gillespie knocked in Brad Miller, who reached on a bunt single, from second with a base hit up the middle. A pop-up and a double play allowed them to score just one run.

The Royals didn't have a hit until Gordon opened the fifth inning with a game- tying homer over the right-field wall.

Salvador Perez followed with a gapper to left-center, but he was thrown out by center fielder James Jones trying to stretch the hit into a double. That was a big out because Justin Maxwell followed with a single through the left side.

Fernando Rodney got Eric Hosmer to ground into a double play to end the game and collect his 20th save of the season.

Game Notes

Robinson Cano snapped a 21-game road hitting streak, going 0-for-4 ... Prior to the game, the Royals placed outfielder Nori Aoki on the 15-day disabled list with a groin injury and purchased the contract of Maxwell from Triple-A Omaha ... The Royals dropped three in a row for the first time since losing four straight from May 25-28.






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