By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The Kansas City Royals offense exploded on Saturday, defeating the Seattle Mariners 8-4 to clinch the three games series win and their third win in a row.
Following a leadoff home run in the top of the first by Seattle shortstop J.P. Crawford, the Royals would answer to tie the game up as third baseman Miakel Garcia scored on an RBI single from catcher Salvador Perez.
Kansas City would take the lead an inning later when Adam Frazier, playing right field in this game, would blast a 364 foot home run to right field, giving the Royals a 2-1 lead.
After two scoreless innings, the Mariners would score two runs in the top of the fifth, a home run coming from Mitch Garver and an RBI single from Crawford, but in the bottom half the Royals would again rally back to take the lead.
An RBI single from second baseman Nick Loftin would tie the game back up, before a two out RBI double from first baseman Vinne Pasquantino would score Loftin and Garcia to give Kansas City the lead.
The Mariners drew one run closer in the sixth, a sacrifice fly from left fielder Dylan Moore scoring fellow outfielder Julio Rodriguez. But the Royals would again extend the lead in the inning, a Kyle Isbel double scoring Loftin and Nelson Velázquez
A sacrifice fly from Isbel in the eighth scoring Dairon Blanco would mark the final run of the game.
Starting pitcher Alec Marsh earned the win, despite giving up all four runs, striking out eight batters. Isbel drove in three runs on the day while Frazier was 2 for 2 with the home run.
Kansas City will now look for a series sweep of Seattle during Sunday's series finale. Cole Ragans is set to start for the Royals against Seattle's George Kirby. First pitch at 1:10, pregame at 12:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).