By MATT PIKE
Vinnie Pasquantino scored the go-ahead run in a three-run fourth inning and the Kansas City Royals held the Seattle Mariners to just four hits for a 4-1 win at T-Mobile Park, bouncing back from a series loss and securing a series sweep over the Mariners.
Kris Bubic earned the win, improving to 3-1 on the season, pitching seven innings, allowing four hits, one earned run and striking out seven to finish off the three-game sweep.
Seattle’s only run came in the third when Leo Rivas scored on a fielder’s choice groundball from Josh Naylor, which opened the scoring. Mariners starter Luis Castillo walked Carter Jensen with the bases loaded to tie the game in the fourth inning, scoring Bobby Witt Jr.. Jac Caglianone followed with a grounder to Naylor, who got the force out at second but Pasquantino scored to make it a 2-1 game. The three run inning was capped off when Isaac Collins hit a fly ball to center field to score Salvador Perez from third, as Perez barely beat the throw home by Julio Rodríguez. Home plate umpire Clint Vondrak initially called Perez out, but the call was overturned and the Royals pushed their lead to two runs.
In six innings, Castillo gave up four earned runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts. The final Royals run Castillo gave up in the sixth was again an RBI by Collins, who drove in Caglianone with an RBI double to make it 4-1.
Daniel Lynch IV struck out three in 1.1 innings for his first save of the season. At the plate, Collins was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI's, also drawing a walk. Pasquantino was 2-for-5 with a run scored, while Kyle Isbel was also 2-for-3 on the day.
Following the sweep, Kansas City will return to Kauffman Stadium for a big homestand, starting with the Cleveland Guardians. Michael Wacha (2-2, 3.13 ERA, 33K's) will get the start at home against Tanner Bibee (0-4, 4.08 ERA, 32K's) for the Guardians. First pitch tomorrow will be at 6:40pm with pregame at 6 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.