Royals Vs Mariners: Perez, Gordon Keys In 12 Inning Win

These Kansas City Royals (83-73) are not going quietly into the night – certainly not last night. The bullpen staggered a bit in the 6-5 victory against the Seattle Mariners (68-89) but the Royals found a way to pull out this game in the 12th inning.

Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

On the Mound

Yordano Ventura‘s second start was eerily similar to his first career start. He did not allow a run until the 6th and it was the only run he allowed. In this one, he yielded just 2 hits but he walked three and struck out 6 before being pulled with 2 outs in the 6th.

Five relievers pitched 5.1 innings, with Will Smith and Luke Hochevar giving 2 runs each. The 6th reliever was Greg Holland, who was brought in to close out the game after the Royals scored a run in the top of the 12th. Uncharacteristically, he walked the first 2 batters before retiring the next three hitters, including the last 2 out on strikes.

At the Plate

In the 12th inning, with the game tied 5-5, with runners on 1st and 2nd, Salvador Perez roped a double to left field, Gordon scored from second but Johnny Giavotella was thrown out at home. Still, the Royals had the lead and Greg Holland coming out of the the bullpen. Game over!

Perez went 3-6 with 2 RBI on the night, and Alex Gordon was 2-4 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored. Mike Moustakas had a rough 0-5 night with 2 strikeouts.

This and That

The key play of the game came in the 10th inning. With the bases loaded and 1 out, former Royal Endy Chavez flew out to medium depth left field. Mariner Kyle Seager tagged up a third and sprinted for home. Gordon delivered a bullet to home, a few feet up the first base line. Perez reached out, snagged, and lunged back toward the plate to tag out Seager. It was Gordon’s 17th assist on the season.

Kansas City is 3 games out of the final playoff spot with just 6 games to go. Any combination of four Cleveland wins and Royal losses will eliminate Kansas City. Texas is just one game out of the final post season slot. All the Royals can do now is to win the games in front of them.

Regardless of what happens over the next 6th days, the Royals will at least match their highest win total (83) since 1994. The Royals won 83 in 2003.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Alex Gordon, for his 17th assist of the year and for scoring the winning run, and Salvador Perez, for doubling in the winning run and making a fine play at the plate on Gordon’s assist, will appropriately share the POG for this game. Yordano Ventura could have won this award on a different day.

• James Shields – 15
• Alex Gordon – 18
• Wade Davis – 5
• Lorenzo Cain – 8
• Luis Mendoza – 3
• Billy Butler – 12
• Ervin Santana – 12
• Miguel Tejada – 5
• Jeremy Guthrie -6
• Eric Hosmer – 15
• Chris Getz – 3
• Mike Moustakas – 7
• Aaron Crow
• Jarrod Dyson – 3
• David Lough – 8
• Alcides Escobar – 7
• J.C. Gutierrez
• Jeff Francoeur
• Bruce Chen – 5
• Salvador Perez – 13
• Will Smith – 2
• George Kottaras
• Louis Coleman – 2
• Bruce Chen – 2
• Justin Maxwell – 3
• Greg Holland -2
• Danny Duffy – 2
  
• Luke Hochevar – 2
• Yordano Ventura

The MARINERS

Kyle  Seager was not happy with the out call at the plate in the 10th, and Michael Saunders was very demonstrative about the called third strike that ended the game. If you are a Mariners fan, it should be encouraging some of these young players are putting it all on the line in a game that is meaningless to them in the grand scheme of things.

Franklin Gutierrez and Michael Saunders hit back-to-back home runs in the 8th off Luke Hochevar.

Up Next

Wily veteran Bruce Chen (8-3, 3.13 ERA) will face a rookie James Paxton (2-0, 2.12 ERA) on Tuesday at 9:10 CDT.

AL Central Notes

Detroit Tigers (91-66):The Tigers fell 4-3 to the Twins in 11 innings. Torii Hunter had three hits and 2 runs produced in the loss.

Cleveland Indians (86-70): The Indians were idle Monday and begin a three game series wit the White Sox at home on Tuesday. The Indians remain in the final wild card slot.

Minnesota Twins (66-90): The Twins scored a run in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game with the Tigers at 3, then won the game in the 11th when a Josmil Pinto single scored Brian Dozier.

Chicago White Sox (62-94): Avisail Garcia and Marcus Semien both homered in the Sox 3-2 over the Blue Jays. Chicago needs just one more win to avoid a 100-loss season.

WILD CARD STANDINGS

1. TAMPA BAY RAYS (87-69, 0 GB)
2. CLEVELAND INDIANS (86-70, 0 GB)
3. TEXAS RANGERS (85-71, 1 GB)
4. KANSAS CITY ROYALS (83-73, 3 GB)
5. NEW YORK YANKEES (82-74, 4 GB)
6. BALTIMORE ORIOLES (81-75, 5 GB)