Kansas City secured a thrilling 7-6 victory over Seattle Friday night when substitute batter Lane Thomas drove in the decisive run with a single during the eighth inning, capping off a home run-heavy battle between the two clubs.
The Royals overcame two powerful two-run blasts from Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez to claim their fourth road win in 16 attempts this season and snap a brief two-game losing streak by taking the series opener.
Home runs flew throughout the contest, with Kansas City getting long balls from Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone, while Seattle answered with solo shots from Connor Joe and Randy Arozarena in addition to Rodriguez’s pair of two-run homers.
Kansas City reliever Daniel Lynch IV earned the win despite surrendering two runs in his single inning of work, while closer Lucas Erceg secured his eighth save by retiring Seattle in order during the ninth.
The game-winning rally began when Salvador Perez opened the eighth with a double down the left field line, his second two-bagger of the evening. After advancing to third base on Carter Jensen’s ground out, Perez crossed home plate when Thomas lofted a single into right-center field off Seattle reliever Jose A. Ferrer, who took the loss.
Kansas City jumped ahead early as Maikel Garcia, Bobby Witt Jr. and Pasquantino each collected singles to start the game, with Pasquantino’s hit plating the first run. Perez then drove a two-run double to right field for a 3-0 lead, and Isaac Collins added another run with a two-out double that deflected off third baseman Leo Rivas’ glove.
Seattle responded immediately in the bottom of the first when J.P. Crawford walked to lead off and Rodriguez launched a two-run homer deep into the left field upper deck to cut the deficit in half.
The Mariners crept closer in the fifth inning when Joe connected on a leadoff home run to left field, making it 4-3.
Kansas City extended their advantage in the sixth as Pasquantino led off with a liner that struck the right field upper deck facade. Two batters later, Caglianone barely cleared the right field corner fence with a towering drive to push the Royals ahead 6-3.
Arozarena answered with a one-out solo homer to right field in the bottom of the sixth to bring Seattle within two runs.
The Mariners completed their comeback in the seventh when Crawford singled and Rodriguez blasted a two-out homer to straightaway center field, evening the score at 6-6.
Both starting pitchers had difficulty containing the opposing offenses throughout the evening.
Kansas City southpaw Cole Ragans lasted 5 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs on four hits while allowing three home runs. He issued three walks and recorded eight strikeouts.
Seattle right-hander Bryan Woo encountered early trouble by giving up four runs in the opening frame, then found his rhythm by retiring 13 straight batters before yielding the two solo homers in the sixth. Woo completed six innings, allowing six runs on seven hits without issuing a walk while striking out two.
