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Royals complete sweep of Mariners

Dec 10, 2008 - 1:21 PM By Alan Eskew PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) -- Zack Greinke allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings as the Kansas City Royals routed the Seattle Mariners, 12-0, on Thursday to sweep the four-game series.

The two teams are heading in different directions as the season winds down. The Royals have won a season-high seven straight while the Mariners have dropped a season-worst eight in a row.

Greinke (12-10) gave up a single to Luis Valbuena with two out in the third and a single to Ichiro Suzuki in the sixth. Greinke, who was pulled after 97 pitches, lowered his earned run average to 3.59. He walked one and struck out seven, including Raul Ibanez in the first for his career 500th strikeout.

Rookie Mike Aviles hit a three-run homer, his first in 172 at-bats since August 3 against the Chicago White Sox, in a four-run third inning.

"Anytime you can go out there and have fun and get some wins, it definitely makes life a little more enjoyable," Aviles said. "Right now, we're on a good streak."

The Royals sent 11 men to the plate in a five-run fourth, chasing Mariners lefthander Ryan Feierabend (1-4). With Greinke pitching with a 9-0 lead after four innings, the Royals emptied their bench, using three pinch hitters in the fifth.

"Zack was brilliant," Aviles said. "He did what he normally does. A 1-0 lead with Zack on the mound, it's like you're cruising. He has that kind of stuff."

Greinke showed he was on from the outset, striking out Ichiro, Yuniesky Betancourt and Ibanez in the first.

"I was pretty happy with my stuff the first inning," Greinke said. "I was able to locate my curveball and it was pretty hard to lay off and pretty hard to hit. I kept that up the whole game. We had a great offense, obviously. Once we got up to a big lead, I could attack the guys and we made some nice plays after that.

"This is the biggest winning streak I've ever been on. It feels good. It's a different feeling than we're used to feeling. Twelve wins just means you're healthy and pitch deep into the games."

Feierabend retired only nine of the 18 batters he faced, giving up six hits and walking three in 3 1/3 innings before being replaced by Jared Wells. Eight of the nine baserunners allowed by Feierbend scored.

"The first two innings are how I wanted to start the game, but then I fell behind in the count and I couldn't get out of the hole," Feierabend said. "I gave up, what, eight runs? It ended up being 12-0, so that wasn't a great pitching performance by me. I've seen it before. I just hope to keep it from happening again."

The big fourth included a double and single by Mark Teahen, who became the first Royal to collect two hits in an inning since Tony Pena Jr. on June 14, 2007, against St. Louis.

Mitch Maier had a two-run single in the fourth to make it 6-0. Ryan Shealy, who has 13 home runs in 11 games, and Teahen had RBI hits in the fourth. Alberto Callaspo, who extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games, scored on a wild pitch.

David DeJesus and Joey Gathright had RBI singles, and Alex Gordon contributed a two-run double in the seventh inning.

The Royals won their 69th game, matching their win total of last season.

"The guys are having a lot of fun," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "It's an atmosphere we'd like to have all the time. There is nothing better than a win. I think the winning takes care of everything else. It always has and always will."

The Mariners, meanwhile, have lost their past 10 road games and were outscored, 26-5, by the Royals in the series.

"I really don't know what I can say," Seattle manager Jim Riggleman said. "It kind of speaks for itself. We just didn't do anything against Greinke and the second time through the lineup they got Ryan, and it's pretty much the story. Greinke's pitched good against us a couple of times. He's kinds of a thorn in our side."

Ichiro extended his hitting streak to 11 games.