Herald news service
PEORIA, Ariz. — Mike Leake blanked the Kansas City Royals over three innings pitched and Kyle Seager and Robinson Cano each recorded two hits, but the Seattle Mariners came up short to the Royals 4-3 Thursday afternoon at Peoria Stadium.
Seattle struck first with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Nelson Cruz led off with a walk and Seager followed with a single to right field. With runners on the corners and one out, Kirk Nieuwenhuis drove an RBI single to right field. Matt Hague followed with his own RBI single over the head of the first baseman. Ian Miller brought home the final run of the inning on an RBI fielder’s choice, as the Mariners took a 3-0 lead.
Seager finished 2-for-3 with a run and is now batting .636 with two runs, a double and an RBI in four games this spring.
The Royals scored a run in the fifth on an RBI fielder’s choice and added two runs in the eighth on a two-run home run off the bat of Jorge Soler.
In his second start of the spring, Leake tossed three scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out four. Leake has totaled five scoreless innings in Cactus League action so far and has allowed just four hits.
Casey Lawrence came on in relief of Leake and allowed one run on four hits while striking out two in three innings of work. Chase De Jong tossed two innings and allowed two runs on two hits. Chasen Bradford was charged with the loss, allowing a run on two hits in the ninth inning.
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