Game recap: Royals 5, Mariners 3

Takeaway

Cheslor Cuthbert had a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth and Salvador Perez, last season’s World Series MVP, homered off Vidal Nuno in the seventh, lifting Kansas City to a 5-3 win over the Mariners Saturday at Kauffman Stadium (box). Seattle (44-44) did not lose any AL West ground to the Houston Astros (47-41), who fell to Oakland, 3-2, but dropped to 1-5 on the road trip with a game remaining before the All-Star break.

The Mariners in the fourth inning did all their scoring on a three-run blast by 3B Kyle Seager that traveled 427 feet to dead center.

Essential moment

The Mariners had runners in scoring position in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings, including three times at third base, but couldn’t push across a run. With one out in the eighth, DH Nelson Cruz walked and reached third on a Seager single, but Seager was picked off first on a snap throw by Perez, and then LF Franklin Gutierrez flew out to center. The Mariners went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded six.

Hitters

Seager (2-for-4) extended his hitting streak to 12 games with his 18th HR. Seager has 20 hits in his last 12 games and is batting .285 . . . Cano (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single in the fourth, Seattle’s first hit of the game . . . Cruz (2-for-3, walk) and SS Ketel Marte (2-for-4) both produced multi-hit games, but Marte was hung up between first and second in the fifth inning on an attempted steal, a base-running gaffe that cost the Mariners an out and possibly a run . . . The Royals collected 12 hits to Seattle’s eight.

Pitchers

Seattle starter Wade Miley (6-7, 5.44) allowed four earned runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and two walks. He surrendered three runs in the second by allowing three doubles and a walk, and was lifted in the sixth after yielding the go-ahead single to 3B Cuthbert . . . Tom Wilhelmsen did not allow a hit in his one inning of relief . . .KC starter Edinson Volquez retired the first 11 batters before Cano’s single in the fourth and collected the win (8-8, 4.85).

Words

“We gave up a couple of outs on the bases (Marte, Seager), and we hate to see that happen. Perez (eighth inning) made a heckuva pickoff throw. We had our chances today, but we didn’t get it done. You can’t give away outs, it will catch up to you.” — Mariners manager Scott Servais

“Once I got past the second inning (three runs allowed) I settled down and threw pretty well. They are a good team. You have to tip you hat to Cuthbert (RBI go-ahead single in the sixth). He had a good at-bat.” — Miley

Noteworthy

The Mariners are 15-27 over past 42 games, 7-13 against the AL Central and 3-3 against the Royals . . . A victory Sunday would give Seattle a winning record at the All-Star break for only the second time since 2010 (also 2014, 51-44) . . . The Mariners also need a win Sunday to avoid their 11th series loss of the season against 14 wins and two ties.

Next

The teams close the first half of the season at 11:15 a.m. PT Sunday. LHP Mike Montgomery (2-3, 2;15) will make his first start for Seattle (he’s replacing Taijuan Walker, on the DL) opposite Dillon Gee (3-2, 4.05). After the All-Star break, the Mariners begin the second half of the season Friday at Safeco Field against the Houston Astros.