Royals beat Mariners 6-5 in 12 innings

SEATTLE – With their playoff dreams basically dashed since the end of the July, the Seattle Mariners are now playing to crush the postseason hopes of someone else. The Kansas City Royals arrived in Safeco Field with playoff chances that were somewhere between slim and “yeah right.” But there was a mathematical chance and losing games weren’t part of that equation.

For much of Monday night, it appeared the Mariners might just derail the Royals’ run at a playoff spot. But in the end, Seattle suffered yet another extra inning defeat in a season filled with them, losing 6-5 in 12 innings.

Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez, who made a brilliant defensive play in the bottom of the 10th, lashed a double to left field off Lucas Luetge to score Alex Gordon from second and provide the game-winning run.

The Mariners had their chances in bottom of the 12th. Abraham Almonte and Kyle Seager drew a back-to-back walks off of Royals’ all-star closer Greg Holland. But the Mariners couldn’t do anything with them. Kendrys Morales flew out to left field and Franklin Gutierrez and Michael Saunders struck out to end the game.

“We had so many opportunities,” Seattle manager Eric Wedge said. “We just didn’t take advantage. So close but yet so far.”

It was the Mariners’ 15th extra0inning loss of the season.

“We’ve been close so many times,” Wedge said.

The extra innings overshadowed a pretty good matchup of young starting pitchers.

The Royals took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth against Mariners’ starter Brandon Maurer. Billy Butler singled home Emilio Bonifacio. On the play, outfielder Abraham Almonte showed poor judgment, firing wildly to third base trying to make a play on Eric Hosmer. The throw went over the head of Kyle Seager and Hosmer trotted home.

That would be the only runs Maurer allowed in perhaps his best start of the season. The rookie right-hander worked a season-high seven innings, giving up just the two runs (one earned) on four hits with six strikeouts and a walk.

His teammates even tried to put him in line for the win.

Seattle scored a run in the sixth off Kansas City’s hard-throwing rookie starter Yordano Ventura. The right-hander cruised through the first five innings allowing just one hit and striking out five while flashing a fastball that touched 100 mph. But a two-out walk to Brad Miller in the sixth, followed by a wild pitch put a runner in scoring position allowing Almonte to single home Miller.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Mariners took a brief 3-2 lead as Mike Zunino ripped a line drive to center field off of lefty reliever Will Smith. The line drive was knuckling out to center fielder Jarrod Dyson, who never got a clear read on the ball and missed it. Michael Saunders, who was pinch running for Justin Smoak, scored all the way from first. Zunino later scored on Nick Franklin’s single to left off of reliever Tim Collins

But the Mariners bullpen couldn’t make the 3-2 lead hold up. Lefty Charlie Furbush, who has looked fatigued the past few weeks, struggled in the eighth. He gave up an RBI single to Alex Gordon and the Mariners defense let him down, failing to turn an inning-ending double play with Franklin’s relay throw bouncing to first and pulling Dustin Ackley off the bag.

Wedge lifted the struggling Furbush for Tom Wilhelmsen, who promptly gave up an RBI single to Salvador Perez. The run was charged to Furbush.

The Mariners went from being up 3-2 to being down 5-3 in just an inning. Sadly, that isn’t the first time it’s happened this season.

But Seattle responded in the most unlikely of ways in the eighth. On a chilly night when the ball wasn’t supposed to carry, the Mariners got back-to-back homers from two players who didn’t even start in the game.

With one out, Franklin Gutierrez, who came in as a defensive replacement for Raul Ibanez, destroyed a Luke Hochevar pitch into the center field beer gardens. It was his ninth homer of the season. Two pitches later, Saunders crushed a Hochevar fastball deep into the seats in right-center for his 11th homer this season. It was the sixth time the Mariners have hit back-to-back homers this season.

Neither team could win it in regulation. But Seattle nearlywon it in the 10th inning. Kyle Seager scalded a ball into the right-center gap for a double and advanced to third when Justin Maxwell bobbled it as he picked it up. The Mariners being the Mariners somehow couldn’t score Seager. After an intentional walk to Kendrys Morales, a strikeout from Gutierrez, another intentional walk to Saunders loaded the bases. Wedge elected to go with pinch hitter Endy Chavez instead of Zunino. Chavez hit a weak fly ball to shallow left field. Alex Gordon made the catch and fired home with Seager tagging up and scoring. The throw bounced once on the turf and Perez made a brilliant catch and tag to just barely get Seager on the arm.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Top recruit Kaleo Anderson commits to Virginia Tech

The King’s guard was The Herald’s 2025 Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

Everett AquaSox pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje throw against the Tri-City Dust Devils at Funko Field on May 10, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Shari Sommerfeld / Everett AquaSox)
Jurrangelo Cijntje, Lazaro Montes named to Futures Game

One current Everett AquaSox player and two former ones have… Continue reading

Everett AquaSox infielder Colt Emerson gets a high-five from teammate Lazaro Montes after scoring during the game against the Tri-City Dust Devils on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vote for the Frog of the Week

Who is the Frog of the Week? Vote for the Everett AquaSox… Continue reading

AquaSox pitcher Evan Truitt throws a pitch during Everett's 19-8 loss to the Eugene Emeralds at Funko Field on Sunday. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed a grand slam in the fourth inning, the third one given up by the AquaSox this week. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Up Hit’s Creek: AquaSox blown out by Eugene in homestand finale

Two position players combine to pitch final 4 innings due to gassed bullpen in 19-8 loss.

AquaSox pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje delivers a pitch during Everett's 9-3 loss to the Eugene Emeralds at Funko Field on Saturday. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
AquaSox scoring woes continue in loss to Eugene

Trouble plating runners and a fourth-inning blow-up on the mound doom Everett in 9-3 loss.

Kevin Harvick (right) speaks at the Mark Galloway 150 Shootout media lunch alongside his son, Keelan, at Evergreen Speedway on Friday. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
NASCAR legend set to return to Evergreen Speedway

Kevin Harvick and his son, Keelan, will face off in the Mark Galloway 150 Shootout on Saturday.

Everett Silvertips’ Carter Bear on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Carter Bear becomes Silvertips’ first NHL first-round pick in 10 years

The Detroit Red Wings select the forward 13th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday.

Everett AquaSox pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje throws against the Spokane Indians at Funko Field on May 31, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Evan Morud / Everett AquaSox)
AquaSox switch-pitcher’s long path leads to Everett

High-A baseball represents just another step in Jurrangelo Cijntje’s journey.

Lake Stevens’ Teegan Lawson maneuvers over the pole in the 4A boys high jump final on Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Tacoma, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Wesco all-league boys track teams announced

Wesco has announced its all-league teams for boys track. WESCO 4A First… Continue reading

AquaSox pitcher Ashton Izzi throws a pitch during Everett's 8-2 loss to Eugene at Funko Field on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Evan Morud / Everett AquaSox)
Fifth-inning grand slam sinks Frogs

AquaSox drop fourth straight game after 8-2 loss to Eugene.

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners hits a single during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Seattle. (Stephen Brashear / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
M’s Cal Raleigh will participate in Home Run Derby

ARLINGTON, Texas – Major League Baseball announced today that Mariners catcher Cal… Continue reading

Matt Wallner of the Minnesota Twins celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the sixth inning at Target Field on Thursday, June 26, 2025, in Minneapolis. (Stephen Maturen / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Twins power up for eight-run inning to crush Mariners

After sitting through a 4-hour, 22-minute rain delay at Target… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.