Royals even the series in a late night 3-2 thriller

On to Arizona

In the last game of a four-game series in Seattle, the Royals took on the Mariners, hoping to come away with a split series. Kansas City needed a win, entering the game seven games behind .500 and fighting to stay in the playoff race. In a back-and-forth game that came down to the wire, the Royals were able to get away on a high note and came away with a big 3-2 win to even the series.

The Royals' offense got off to a slow start, not getting a single baserunner their first time through the order, and rookie Logan Evans breezed through the first three innings. The Mariners, on the other hand, threatened to score in the bottom of the second, getting two runners on with no outs. But Lugo was able to work around it, not allowing a run.

The Royals' offense woke up in the fourth inning. Jonathan India led things off with a walk, Vinnie Pasquantino followed up with an HBP, and a single by Maikel Garcia loaded the bases for Salvador Perez with just one out. Unfortunately, Perez popped out, and a groundout by John Rave ended the inning and the Royals stranded all three.

The Mariners came up in the bottom of the fourth looking to score. Jorge Polanco put the first run on the board, leading off the inning with a home run to put the Mariners on top. The next pitch, Luke Raley doubled, and the Mariners had the Royals on their heels. Seth Lugo was able to lock things down, getting three pop-ups, limiting the damage to just one run.

But it was the top of the seventh where the tides began to turn. A leadoff lineout by Freddy Fermin made it seem as if the Royals were in for yet another shutout inning, but then the rally came. Kyle Isbel walked in seven pitches, followed by another walk by Jonathan India, giving Bobby Witt Jr another shot to drive in a run. On the second pitch of the AB, Bobby pulled a hard sinker into left, and Isbel came in and tied the game.

Vinnie came to the plate, and the offense had life in a tied game with runners on the corners and just one out. Bobby stole second without a throw and gave Kansas City two runners in scoring position for one of the best RBI hitters in Vinnie Pasquantino. Vinnie singled to right field and drove in two with an incredible slide by Bobby Witt Jr to avoid the tag and give the Royals a two-run lead. The throw beat him by a mile, but a wide slide allowed Junior to avoid the tag and slapped the plate, with one of the best slides I have ever seen, and gave the Royals their third run of the ball game. Salvador Perez and John Rave grounded out, and the Royals carried a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

Seth Lugo won the pitching battle, going 6.1 innings, only allowing one run and finishing with seven strikeouts and lowering his season ERA to 2.65. Lugo provided a gem when the Royals needed it most. On the other side, Logan Evans provided 5.2 innings of scoreless ball, getting three strikeouts and putting himself in position to get the win. But a tough outing for Casey Legumina cost the Mariners three runs and sent Evans to the locker room with a no-decision.

Lucas Erceg entered for the Royals in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on first to take over for Seth Lugo and got the two outs to send the game into the eighth with the Royals up two. It feels important to mention that Erceg came away with a big strikeout to end the inning and showed some flair. Punching out Julio Rodriguez with a 97 MPH fastball up and in, Erceg walked off the mound with a big yell and an arm pump, exactly the energy we have been looking for from the Royals this season.

Taylor Clarke came in for the eighth along with some changes. Nick Loftin exited for Drew Waters as a defensive sub. Freddy Fermin moved from DH to behind the plate, and some concern was raised as Salvador Perez was checked for an ankle injury earlier in the game. Taylor Clarke got two outs with one strikeout but was pulled after giving up a two-out double, and Carlos Estevez entered the game for a four-out save.

Estevez forced a blooper to right field to get the last out of the eighth and sent the game to the ninth with the Royals up 3-1. He returned for the ninth when things got interesting. A slider left over the middle was hammered by Dominic Canzone deep to center field and snuck over the fence, making it a one-run game with no outs.

Miles Mastrobuoni then came to the plate and sent a hard line drive to right field, where John Rave just missed the ball trying to make a sliding catch. Estevez got a big strikeout for the first out of the inning against Cole Young. JP Crawford game up and took a high fastball opposite field to left for a single, and there were two on with just one out.

Then, a wild pitch to Julio Rodriguez over Fermin allowed the Mariners' runners to advance, giving them two in scoring position. Estevez then delivered a beautiful down-and-in fastball on a full count to strike out Julio looking, for the second out of the inning. Brian Sweeney elected to let Estevez face one of the hottest hitters in baseball, Cal Raleigh, and he was able to force a groundout to come away with the win.

Winners

Jonathan India; 1-3 with two walks and a run scored

Bobby Witt Jr, 1-5, but scored what ended up being the winning run with an incredible slide into home

Vinnie Pasquantino; 1-4, HBP and 2 RBIs

Seth Lugo; 6.1 innings, 1 ER and 7 Ks

Lucas Erceg; 0.2 innings, stranded a runner, and brought the energy

THE ROYALS

Losers

Nick Loftin; 0-4

Freddy Fermin; 0-3, HBP

Carlos Estevez (but not really); Shaky going for the close but got the job done

The Mariners!