KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Starter Jonathan Sanchez hasn’t won a game since April, and his struggles continued in Monday night’s loss at Kauffman Stadium.
Sanchez (1-6, 7.76 ERA) gave up seven runs on seven hits in 1 1/3 innings, and the Seattle Mariners cruised to a 9-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Before a single out was recorded, the Mariners (38-53, 21-26 away) had built a 5-0 lead in the first inning. Left fielder Casper Wells crushed a three-run home run to center, and first baseman Justin Smoak went yard with a two-run blast to left.
Wells got to Sanchez again in the second inning, hitting a two-run RBI triple that put Seattle up 7-0.
In the third, Royals catcher Salvador Perez hit his 5th HR in 17 games since coming off the disabled list. Billy Butler blasted a 427 foot two-run jack to left, his 17th HR of the season.
Royals reliever Louis Coleman (4.08 ERA) gave up just one run on one hit in 2 2/3 innings, fanning two and walking one.
Royals starter Everett Teaford was scheduled to start Tuesday’s game, but with Sanchez’s early exit, Teaford was forced to come in and give the bullpen a rest.
In 5 innings, Teaford (4.98 ERA) gave up one run on three hits, striking out three and walking two.
Both teams had 11 hits. The Mariners went 3-11 with runners in scoring position, and the Royals (38-50, 15-26 home) went 2-8.
Starter Justin Vargas (9-7, 4.09 ERA) got the win, giving up three runs on seven hits in 6 innings.
Royals left-handed pitcher Ryan Verdugo will get his first Major League start against Mariners right-hander Blake Beavan (3-6, 5.92 ERA) for game two of this series on Tuesday night at the K.
