Cuthbert's hot bat keys Royals' win over Mariners
KANSAS CITY -- Royals rookie Cheslor Cuthbert drove in two runs and right-hander Edinson Volquez tossed a quality start as the Royals held off the Mariners for a 5-3 win on a steamy Saturday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium.
Royals catcher Salvador Perez, the leading vote-getter for the All-Star Game presented by MasterCard, homered, his 14th. Perez also picked the potential tying run off first base in the eighth inning when he nailed Kyle Seager -- it was Perez's Major League-leading 18th pickoff since 2011.
Volquez threw 91 pitches as he gave up six hits and three runs while walking one and striking out three. Kelvin Herrera worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save since 2013.
After a shaky start, Miley, who gave up three runs in the second, lasted 5 1/3 innings and gave up 10 hits and four runs. Seager hit a three-run homer for the Mariners, his 18th.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Cheslor to the rescue: Cuthbert, who had doubled in a run in the second, came through in the sixth. Paulo Orlando had reached on a leadoff infield single, and Brett Eibner waked. Alcides Escobar laid down a poor bunt, and Orlando was forced at third base. But Cuthbert drove a single to left-center that put the Royals up 4-3 and chased Miley from the game.
Making amends: In the second inning with two runners in scoring position, Escobar hit a ground ball to Seager, who appeared to have a chance to get Perez out at home. Seager fumbled the ball and had to throw to first, as the run scored. Seager made up for his miscue by belting a game-tying three-run homer off Volquez in the fourth. The homer was Seager's 18th and extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
Triple-double: The Royals jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second inning off Miley. Perez led off with a walk, and one out later, Eibner stroked a double to left-center. Escobar plated one run with a groundout. Then, Cuthbert doubled in another run to make it 2-0. Rookie Whit Merrifield doubled to right-center and it was 3-0.
A missed opportunity: In the fifth, the Mariners let a run-scoring opportunity slip away. With runners on the corners and one out in a tie game, Leonys Martin could not execute on a couple of sacrifice attempts. Later in the at-bat, Ketel Marte was caught in a rundown between first and second, making the second out of the inning. Martin drew a walk, but Seth Smith struck out to end the inning.
LEE'S LINGERING INJURY
After getting the start at DH, Mariners regular first baseman Dae-Ho Lee was replaced by pinch-hitter Franklin Gutierrez in the sixth inning, just one day after Lee missed Friday's game with soreness in his right hand. The diagnosis for Lee is a hand contusion, which is expected to keep him out until after the All-Star break, according to manager Scott Servais.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
In the eighth inning with runners on the corners and one out, Perez recorded his first pickoff of the season, as he threw out Seager at first base. The umpires reviewed the play and the call was ruled as stands. Gutierrez then flied out to center to end the inning and the Mariners couldn't capitalize with runners on the corners and one out for the second time in the game.
WHAT'S NEXT
Mariners: Left-hander Mike Montgomery (2-3, 2.15 ERA) will take the mound on Sunday at 11:15 a.m. PT for the final game of the series at Kauffman Stadium. Montgomery threw a shutout against the Royals last year, striking out 10 in a 7-0 win on June 23.
Royals: Right-hander Dillon Gee (3-2, 4.05) will get the ball in the team's final game before the All-Star break at 1:15 p.m CT. Gee will make his first start since May 31, when he gave up nine hits and four earned runs in a 10-5 win over the Rays.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.
Jeffrey Flanagan has covered the Royals since 1991, and for MLB.com since 2015. Follow him on Twitter @FlannyMLB.
Scott Chasen is a reporter for MLB.com based in Kansas City and covered the Mariners on Saturday. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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