Kris Bubic pitched seven strong innings as the Kansas City Royals defeated the host Seattle Mariners 4-1 Sunday afternoon.
The Royals swept the three-game series after winning just three of their first 15 road games this season.
Bubic (3-1) gave up one run on four hits — all singles. The left-hander walked two and struck out seven. Seattle’s Chase Young owned one of those hits, but fanned in his three other at-bats.
Daniel Lynch IV worked a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his first save of the season.
Isaac Collins went 2-for-2, added a walk, a sacrifice fly and drove in two of Kansas City’s four runs. Vinnie Pasquantino added two hits in five at-bats and scored once.
The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Leo Rivas, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, drew a leadoff walk and went from first to third on a hit-and-run as Julio Rodriguez grounded a one-out single to left field. Rivas scored as Josh Naylor grounded into a fielder’s choice to first.
The Royals responded with three runs in the fourth off Seattle starter Luis Castillo (0-3).
Bobby Witt Jr. lined a single to center, Pasquantino lined a single to right and Salvador Perez was hit on the left forearm by a pitch, loading the bases with no outs. Carter Jensen walked on a 3-2 pitch to force in the first run and Jac Caglianone grounded into a force-out to score the go-ahead run.
Collins flew out to center and the slow-footed Perez tagged at third and tried to score. Perez was initially ruled out by home-plate umpire Clint Vondrak, but the Royals challenged the call and a video review determined Perez got his hand on the plate just before the tag from catcher Jhonny Pereda.
The Royals tacked on a run in the sixth as Caglianone drew a two-out walk and scored on Collins’ double to center.
Castillo allowed four runs on six hits over six innings. The right-hander walked two and fanned five.
Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh sat out a second consecutive game with discomfort in his right side.
