Adam Frazier’s go-ahead, two-run homer highlighted a four-run eighth inning, and the host Kansas City Royals ended the Seattle Mariners’ 10-game winning streak with Wednesday night’s 7-5 victory.
After J.P. Crawford gave Seattle (83-69) a 4-3 lead with his solo homer off Lucas Erceg (8-4) in the top of the eighth, the Royals (76-76) rallied in the bottom of the frame. Matt Brash (1-3) walked Salvador Perez to open the inning, then Frazier sent a drive just inside the left-field foul pole to put Kansas City ahead.
Carter Jensen delivered an RBI single, and Bobby Witt Jr. added a run-scoring double to cap the eighth-inning scoring for the Royals, who evened this three-game set by winning for the third time in 10 games.
Perez clubbed a three-run homer in the first and Carlos Estevez, Kansas City’s seventh pitcher of the night, allowed three hits and a run in the ninth, but recorded his major league-leading 40th save. Cole Ragans returned from a strained rotator cuff to make his first start since June 5 for Kansas City, and allowed only Eugenio Suarez’s two-run homer while throwing 62 pitches over 3 2/3 innings.
Suarez entered amid an 0-for-32 slump, but was 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Seattle’s Bryce Miller yielded three runs on eight hits in five innings with two walks and four strikeouts.
Seattle, in the mix for the AL West title, suffered their first loss since Sept. 5. The Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers on Wednesday to go back in front of the Mariners in the AL West by a half game.
Staked to that 3-0 lead, Ragans, who struck out the side in the first, walked Jorge Polanco to open the second inning, then Suarez followed by clearing the left-center field wall to make it a 3-2 contest.
The Royals stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the third and Vinnie Pasquantino was thrown out trying to score from second on Frazier’s single to end the fifth inning.
Then in the seventh, Suarez doubled off Angel Zerpa, went to second on Josh Naylor’s ground out and scored via a Mitch Garver sacrifice fly to center field for the tying run.
Kansas City center fielder Kyle Isbel exited after the second with left hamstring discomfort.
