SEATTLE (AP) — Every so often Kansas City’s Whit Merrifield will swing at the first pitch of the first inning no matter what just to make sure his scouting report doesn’t become predictable.

“That way pitchers don’t just groove one every time and you’re sitting 0-1 every at-bat,” Merrifield said. “It’s important as the leadoff guy to get on the first pitch every once in a while.”

Merrifield picked the right time, hitting Felix Hernandez’s first pitch of the game for his seventh home run as the Kansas City Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 7-3 on Tuesday for their fifth win in six games.

Merrifield set the tone jumping on an 89 mph pitch in the middle of the plate and clearing the wall in left-center. Mike Moustakas continued his home run roll at the plate hitting a two-run shot for his 24th of the season and the Royals knocked around Hernandez (3-3) for five earned runs in six innings. Moustakas has homered five times in the past seven games.

The Royals scored three times in the fourth inning thanks to Moustakas’ long ball and a two-out error by second baseman Robinson Cano that allowed Brandon Moss to score. Salvador Perez had a two-run double and the five earned runs were the most allowed by Hernandez in his eight starts this season.

“I was just looking for something out over the plate,” Moustakas said. “That guy has been one of the best pitchers in baseball for a long time so I was trying to put a good swing on something early in the count and not get to two strikes.”

Kansas City starter Danny Duffy (5-4) returned after spending a month on the disabled list and allowed just two first-inning runs.

Nelson Cruz had a two-run single off the wall in right-center field in the first inning — missing his first home run in a month by a matter of inches — but Duffy allowed just one other runner to reach third base pitching into the sixth. The lefty had been on the DL since late May with an oblique strain, but scattered five hits and struck out four.

“He looked great. The first inning he was getting his tempo and timing … but after that he really settled down, found his arm slot and did exactly what we needed him to do,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said.

Jean Segura had an RBI single in the seventh to pull within 6-3, helped along by first baseman Eric Hosmer’s throwing error that put runners on second and third with just one out. Reliever Peter Moylan got Danny Valencia to ground into a double play to end the threat, started by Merrifield’s lunging stop that kept the grounder from sneaking into the outfield.

Seattle has lost six straight at home and averaged just 2.3 runs per game in those losses.

“The Royals have some momentum going and are playing some good ball and we’re not. We need to get some momentum going,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said.

RECORD BOOK

Hernandez struck out five, becoming the 50th pitcher in Major League history to reach 2,300 strikeouts. It was the worst of his three starts since coming off the disabled list. Hernandez allowed six hits and walked four.

“The first three innings I got into a rhythm, but in the fourth and fifth I had a four-pitch walk and they made me pay,” Hernandez said.

SINGLE?

The Mariners went consecutive games without an extra base hit for the first time since Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, 2013. Seattle had eight singles on Tuesday and four in the series opener on Monday.

ROSTER MOVE

The Royals optioned RHP Miguel Almonte to clear a roster spot for Duffy’s return. Almonte threw one inning of relief on Saturday against the Twins in his second appearance of the season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: LHP Matt Strahm will receive a second opinion on his left knee injury on Thursday. Strahm was initially diagnosed as having a torn patellar tendon.

Mariners: Seattle has shut down RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (shoulder) for at least a week after experiencing additional discomfort in his shoulder following a bullpen session. Iwakuma received a cortisone shot and a PRP injection in the hope of alleviating some of the discomfort. Iwakuma has been on the DL since May 10.

UP NEXT

Royals: Jason Vargas (12-2) goes for his AL-leading 13th win before heading off to the All-Star Game. Vargas leads the AL in wins and ERA (2.22) and has won his past seven starts.

Mariners: Ariel Miranda (7-4) makes his final start before the All-Star break. Miranda threw seven innings of two-hit ball in his last start and picked up his seventh victory.

— Associated Press —

SEATTLE (AP) — Ian Kennedy allowed one run pitching into the seventh inning, Mike Moustakas and Alex Gordon both hit solo home runs, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 3-1 on Monday night.

Kennedy (3-6) won his third straight decision with one of his best performances of the season. The lone run scored on a wild pitch as Kansas City handed Seattle its fifth straight loss at home.

Moustakas led off the second inning with his 23rd home run of the season and gave the Royals a 2-0 lead against Seattle starter Andrew Moore. Gordon’s home run came with two outs in the fifth, a pitch he broke his bat on but was still able to get it over the wall in right just beyond the leap of Mitch Haniger. It was Gordon’s fifth homer and second in the past three games.

Lorenzo Cain added a sacrifice fly in the first inning as the Royals won for the fourth time in five games.

Kennedy threw 6 2/3 innings, allowing just four hits and striking out seven. Seattle got its only run in the second inning, the only inning Kennedy permitted more than one runner to reach base. Kyle Seager scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch, but Kennedy recovered to strike out Mike Zunino and Boog Powell to end the threat.

Peter Moylan, Neftali Feliz and Joakim Soria retired the final seven batters in order. Soria picked up his first save since April 13, 2016.

Moore (1-1) missed high in the strike zone early in the game, but avoided giving up any major damage and made it through eight innings in his second start. Moore allowed five hits and struck out three and became the third pitcher in Seattle history to throw at least seven innings in the first two starts of his career.

CRUZ CONTROL

Seattle slugger Nelson Cruz was expected to miss his second straight game with a sore knee, but came on as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and struck out. Manager Scott Servais said before the game he was hopeful Cruz would return in the next few days.

ROSTER SHUFFLE

Royals: Kansas City bolstered its bullpen by selecting Al Alburquerque from Triple-A Omaha on Monday. The Royals optioned left-hander Eric Skoglund to Omaha and transferred Matt Strahm to the 60-day disabled list. Strahm suffered a torn patellar tendon on Saturday.

Mariners: Right-handed reliever Dan Altavilla was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma to clear a roster spot for Moore. Seattle needed to carry an extra position player with Cruz still slowed by a sore knee. … Seattle traded Double-A pitcher Tyler Herb to San Francisco for cash considerations.

UP NEXT

Royals: Danny Duffy (4-4) will return from the disabled list. Duffy has not started since May 28 due to an oblique strain. Duffy made two starts with Omaha.

Mariners: Felix Hernandez (3-2) makes his third start since coming off the disabled list. He got a no decision in his last outing against Philadelphia after allowing three runs over six innings.

— Associated Press —

MIAMI (AP) – Royals pitcher Jason Vargas and catcher Salvador Perez have been named to the 2017 MLB All-Star roster for the American League.

This marks the first All-Star game for Vargas, the 5th for Perez who will make his fourth consecutive start at catcher.

Eric Hosmer lost out to Toronto’s Justin Smoak at 1st base. Hosmer had led the voting up to this week.

Mike Moustakas has a chance to make the roster on the Final Vote ballot.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals’ hot streak not coincidentally coincides with Alcides Escobar’s blistering bat.

Escobar had two hits and two RBI and Scott Alexander picked up his first major league victory as the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2 on Sunday.

The Royals have won 15 of 21 games to move a game above .500 and into a tie with the Twins for second place in the American League Central.

Escobar went 7-for-16 with four extra-base hits, including a home run, with seven RBI and scored four runs in the four-game series. He has raised his average 50 points since June 13 from .180 to .230, going 27-for-71, .380, in that 19-game span with the Royals winning 13.

“I’m trying to hit the ball to the other side, just waiting more for the ball and feeling more comfortable right now,” Escobar said. “More comfortable, more patient, just looking for a strike in the strike zone.”

“When I try to go the other way my hands are always inside the ball. When I try to hit on top of the ball I hit a ground ball to third base. When my hands are inside I hit the ball up the middle.”

Escobar doubled in Ramon Torres and scored on Whit Merrifield’s double in a three-run third. Escobar’s single in the fifth scored Jorge Soler, who led off the inning with a double.

Travis Wood, who was making his first start since Sept. 19, 2015 while with the Chicago Cubs and 108 relief appearances, was pulled after 81 pitches and four-plus innings. He had not thrown more than 49 pitches in an outing this year and that’s the most pitches he had thrown in a game since 97 on May 14, 2015.

Wood was removed in the fifth after facing three batters and retiring none. Brian Dozier and Robbie Grossman had RBI-singles in the inning.

Alexander (1-2) replaced Wood and induced Eduardo Escobar to ground into an inning ending double play with the bases loaded.

“That was huge,” Alexander said.

After throwing 30 pitches Saturday, Alexander threw 33 more over two scoreless innings to pick up the victory in his 42nd career appearance. He got a game ball.

Merrifield had three hits, including two doubles, scored a run, drove in a run and stole three bases.

Hector Santiago (4-8) was charged with four runs on four hits, a hit batter and a walk. He was pulled after 3 1/3 innings and 58 pitches.

“Short on the pitch count,” Santiago said. “I definitely didn’t see that coming, for sure. I don’t know exactly what went into all that. Obviously coming back, short start last time, only about 40/50 pitches. So, kind of maybe something between that. I thought I was throwing the ball well.”

In his last three starts, Santiago has a 12.38 ERA, allowing 11 earned runs in eight innings. He is 0-7 in his past eight outings and missed three weeks in June with a shoulder strain.

Twins manager Paul Molitor noted Santiago’s velocity diminished. He missed three weeks in June with a shoulder strain.

“I thought there would be more in there, especially after the velocity we saw in Boston,” Molitor said. “It was down today, for whatever reason. Whether he choose to try to have more command or whatever, it was obvious to everybody it was down.”

ROYALS LINEUP ALTERATIONS

Gordon started in center field for only the second time in his career, while Brandon Moss was the Royals’ starting first baseman for the second time this season. 1B Eric Hosmer was the DH for the third time this year. CF Lorenzo Cain, who played in every June game and in both games Saturday, was rested. Cain was the Royals player of the month, hitting .333 with eight home runs and 26 runs in June.

TRAINER’S ROOM

TWINS: IF Ehire Adrianza (abdominal strain) has been rehabbing with Triple-A Rochester and could be activated Monday.

Royals: A MRI revealed LHP Matt Strahm has a torn left patella tendon. Strahm will seek a second opinion. The Royals won’t know the severity or recovery timetable until after the second opinion. Manager Ned Yost said he is not sure Strahm will require surgery. Strahm said his knee popped while jumping for a chopper over his head Saturday. “I’m just trying to manage the pain,” Strahm said.

ROSTER MOVE

The Royals optioned rookie LHP Eric Skoglund to Triple-A Omaha after the game. Skoglund was recalled Friday, but did not pitch in the four-game series.

UP NEXT

Twins: Rookie LHP Adelberto Mejia will start Monday against the Angels in the opener of a seven-game homestand. He has pitched 10 2/3 scoreless innings in his past two starts.

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy draws the starting assignment Monday at Seattle.

— Associated Press —