Mariners 3 - 4 Royals
Final
  for this game

Playoff-hopeful Royals continue set with M's

Sep 3, 2013 - 2:34 PM (Sports Network) - The Kansas City Royals are still trying to snap their lengthy playoff drought and will resume a four-game series with the Seattle Mariners Tuesday from Kauffman Stadium.

Ronald Reagan was President the last time the Royals made the playoffs back in 1985, when they needed seven games to dispose of the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series.

Kansas City is currently 4 1/2 games off a wild card spot and has won two straight and seven of nine games, including Monday's 3-1 decision versus the Mariners. Emilio Bonifacio and Mike Moustakas each had an RBI and Will Smith threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the win.

"He pitched backwards, he mixed his breaking balls up, and he was able to throw a curveball and a slider pretty effectively," Mariners catcher Mike Zunino said of Smith. "He did a great job today."

Danny Duffy started for K.C. and gave up a run in 3 2/3 frames.

Kansas City's Alex Gordon had an eight-game hit streak halted after finishing 0-for-3.

Bruce Chen gets the call for the Royals Tuesday and he is 6-2 with a 2.79 earned run average in 28 games (9 starts). Chen was 0-2 in three outings before holding Minnesota to a run in 5 2/3 innings of last Thursday's 3-1 victory.

The veteran left-hander has faced Seattle 13 times (9 starts) in his career and owns a 4-1 mark to go along with a 3.23 ERA.

Seattle has dropped two in a row since winning three straight and lost for the eighth time in 11 tries on Monday. Mariners ace Felix Hernandez lost his fourth straight start and allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings.

The two-run fifth inning sent King Felix to the loss column.

"Tough luck," Hernandez said. "A couple of ground balls that just found holes. It was enough for them to win the game."

Kyle Seager had three of Seattle's seven hits and Brad Miller ended 2-for-5 with an RBI.

Taking the mound for the Mariners Tuesday will be Erasmo Ramirez, who is 5-1 with a 5.18 ERA this season. Ramirez has never faced the Royals.

The Mariners went 7-1 against the Royals last season.






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