Recap: Kansas City vs. Seattle
Sports Network | September 17, 2008
Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Gil Meche hurled seven solid innings as Kansas City downed Seattle, 5-2, at Kauffman Stadium.
Meche (12-11) surrendered just two runs on six hits while walking three and striking out seven for the Royals, who have won six straight contests.
Ryan Shealy homered and Jose Guillen added a two-run single for Kansas City.
Ichiro Suzuki was 3-for-3 and recorded his 200th hit of the season for the Mariners, who have lost seven straight. Suzuki's infield single in the eighth inning marked the eighth consecutive year he has reached the 200-hit plateau, tying the major league record held by Willie Keeler (1894-1901). Suzuki also broke the AL record he shared with Wade Boggs (1983-89).
Ryan Rowland-Smith allowed just one run on three hits in six innings but was let down by his bullpen. Roy Corcoran (5-2) took the loss after giving up three runs in just two-thirds of an inning.
Trailing 2-0, Kansas City found the scoreboard in the fourth when Shealy blasted a two-out, solo homer, his sixth of the season.
The Royals then took the lead off the M's bullpen in the seventh.
John Buck greeted Corcoran with a single up the middle and advanced to second when Alberto Callapso reached on a Yuniesky Betancourt error. After Esteban German advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, David DeJesus was intentionally walked to load the bases. Mike Aviles grounded back to the box to score one run and, after Miguel Batista replaced Corcoran, Guillen slapped a two-run single up the middle to make it 4-2.
Kansas City added an insurance run in the eighth when Buck got on with a one- out double to center and Callaspo followed with an RBI single to center.
The Mariners jumped on top with a pair of runs in the first. Suzuki led off the game by drawing a walk and Betancourt followed with a single. After Raul Ibanez struck out, Seattle pulled off a double steal setting the stage for Jose Lopez, who came through with a two-run single up the middle.
Kansas City has won six of its eight matchups with the Mariners this season, including five of the six tests played at Kauffman Stadium...Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 10 games while Guillen has now hit in 14 straight.
