DETROIT (AP) — The promise of youth, and the price of inexperience.

It’s all part of the equation this year for the rebuilding Detroit Tigers.

Hours after JaCoby Jones homered in the 10th inning to give the Tigers a 3-2 victory over Kansas City, rookie first baseman Niko Goodrum dropped a grounder and made a wild throw as Detroit squandered a chance at a doubleheader sweep. The Royals scored twice in the ninth to win the second game 3-2 on Friday night, snapping a nine-game losing streak.

“I guarantee that the guys out there in the clubhouse are rallying around him, and that’s the way we’re going to do it around here — take the good with the bad,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. “It happens. That’s part of the game, too. You make a mistake and it ends up costing you.”

The Tigers led 2-1 in the ninth of the nightcap before pinch hitter Abraham Almonte hit a tying bloop single with one out. With runners at first and second, Jon Jay hit a grounder to Goodrum, who didn’t handle it cleanly. Goodrum then compounded his problems by flipping the ball over the head of pitcher Shane Greene (1-1), who was covering the bag. The tiebreaking run scored on that error .

“It all kind of evens out,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We haven’t been getting our fair share of the bloopers and the stuff like that. It was good that it finally came around our way a little bit and helped us win a game.”

Kelvin Herrera pitched the ninth for his third save, ending Detroit’s four-game winning streak.

Jakob Junis (3-1) allowed two runs and four hits in eight innings for the Royals.

With one out in the 10th inning of the first game, the 25-year-old Jones hit a fastball from Brad Keller (0-1) deep to left and immediately put up his right index finger in celebration.

“I was worried as the ball got toward the wall, because I was going to look stupid if it didn’t go out,” he said. “That’s the best feeling in baseball.”

Joe Jimenez (2-0) pitched a scoreless 10th in the opener.

Royals starter Jason Hammel allowed two runs on five hits and two walks in nine innings in the afternoon game, matching the longest outing of his career. Tigers starter Michael Fulmer pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out four.

Alcides Escobar led off the ninth with a flyball to deep left, but Jones made a leaping catch at the wall.

Mike Moustakas homered in the first game for Kansas City, and Whit Merrifield went deep in the nightcap.

STRONG STARTS

The Royals only needed to use four pitchers in the doubleheader since Junis and Hammel pitched so deep into their games.

“That’s pretty awesome for two starters to go nine and eight innings in a doubleheader,” Junis said. “Definitely saves the bullpen for tomorrow and hopefully we get another win.”

IMPRESSIVE DAY

In addition to his game-winning homer, Jones also hit an RBI double in the first game. In the nightcap, he tripled and scored in the third inning and added a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

DEBUT

Tigers outfielder Mike Gerber was recalled from Triple-A Toledo to be the 26th man in the doubleheader. He made his big league debut as a pinch runner in the ninth inning of the nightcap.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Alex Gordon was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday night. Gordon has been out since April 10 with a left hip tear. … C Salvador Perez (knee) caught seven innings on Thursday for Double-A Memphis.

UP NEXT

Detroit sends RHP Mike Fiers (1-1) to the mound to face Kansas City LHP Danny Duffy (0-2) on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

TORONTO (AP) — Teoscar Hernandez’s hot bat is going to force the Blue Jays into a tough decision sometime soon.

Hernandez had four hits, including a two-run home run, Curtis Granderson hit his ninth career grand slam and the Blue Jays routed Kansas City 15-5 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep of the Royals, losers of eight straight.

Hernandez singled and scored in the first, homered in the third, flied out in the fourth, singled in the sixth and hit a two-run triple in the seventh. It was the first four-hit game of his career.

“He can’t play any better,” manager John Gibbons said.

Needing a double for the cycle, Hernandez struck out swinging in the eighth against reliever Brian Flynn.

“I got excited, too much I think, and that’s what made me strike out,” Hernandez said. “I wanted it.”

Granderson’s slam, which came off Justin Grimm, was the big blow in a six-run eighth. Toronto set season highs with 15 runs and 15 hits.

Yangervis Solarte also homered for the Blue Jays, a solo shot in the third. Solarte had two hits and a walk and scored each time he reached base.

Toronto (12-5) is off to its best start since 2009.

“We’re playing good baseball,” Gibbons said. “We’re doing everything well. You ride that.”

The question is whether they’ll ride Hernandez, whose spot in the lineup could be in jeopardy when designated hitter Kendrys Morales returns from a right hamstring injury Friday.

“It’s not going to be an easy decision whatever we choose to do, but we’ll have to make one,” Gibbons said.

Acquired from Houston last July, Hernandez has nine home runs in 31 games with Toronto, including eight last September.

“He’s really talented,” Kansas City right-hander Ian Kennedy said of Hernandez. “Having (Justin) Smoak behind him, that helps, too.”

J.A. Happ (3-1) allowed five hits and four runs in six innings to win his third straight start as the Blue Jays won their fourth straight and eighth of nine.

After losing its first two home games of the season, Toronto has won seven of eight at Rogers Centre. The Jays have outscored opponents 67-40 in 10 home games.

Toronto has won 12 of its past 15 home meetings with Kansas City.

Whit Merrifield had a two-run homer and Jorge Soler hit a solo blast, but the Royals’ April slide continued. Kansas City’s skid is its longest since a nine-game slump last April.

“Pretty discouraged,” Kennedy said when asked to sum up the team’s mood. “It’s not the start we all want.”

Kansas City entered with the worst bullpen ERA in the majors at 6.75, and saw that spike to 7.94 after four relievers allowed nine runs in three innings.

“It definitely hasn’t been very pretty,” manager Ned Yost said. “I think (GM Dayton Moore) and I will talk tomorrow.”

Hernandez and Solarte connected off Kennedy (1-2), who allowed six runs, four earned, and eight hits in five innings.

LOOK OUT BELOW!

Two days after Monday’s series opener was canceled when chunks of ice falling off the nearby CN Tower punctured holes in the retractable roof at Rogers Centre, roads, walkways and entrance gates on the east side of the stadium remained blocked by police.

MR. VERSATILITY

Toronto’s Russell Martin began the game at catcher but played the final four innings at third base after Luke Maile pinch-hit for second baseman Gift Ngoepe in the fifth. Solarte moved from third to second.

FAST START

Maile has more RBI in six games this season (8) than he had in 46 games last season (7).

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Clay Buchholz made his first start at Double-A San Antonio Tuesday, allowing two hits in 4 2/3 shutout innings. Buchholz made just two starts with Philadelphia last season before undergoing elbow surgery. … Buchholz worked with catcher Salvador Perez, who is rehabbing a sprained left knee. It was Perez’s final game at Double-A before advancing to Triple-A Omaha.

Blue Jays: 3B Josh Donaldson (right shoulder) will not be ready to come off the disabled list when he is eligible to return Saturday, Gibbons said. Donaldson is working out at Toronto’s minor league complex in Dunedin, Florida.

UP NEXT

Royals: Kansas City is off Thursday before a doubleheader at Detroit Friday, its second in four days. RHP Jakob Junis (2-1, 1.93 ERA) starts Game 1 against Detroit RHP Michael Fulmer (1-2, 3.86). RHP Jason Hammel (0-1, 3.86) starts Game 2 for the Royals against LHP Daniel Norris (0-1, 7.11).

Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (1-1, 3.86) starts as the Blue Jays begin a four-game series at the Yankees. LHP CC Sabathia (0-0, 4.00) starts for New York.

— Associated Press —

TORONTO (AP) — Luke Maile singled down the right-field line with the bases loaded in the 10th inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays walked off with a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night to sweep a rare doubleheader at Rogers Centre.

Toronto won the opener 11-3 and has swept all three doubleheaders at its retractable-roof stadium, which opened in 1989.

The Blue Jays loaded the bases with one out in the tenth. Kevin Pillar singled off Brian Flynn (0-1) before Aledmys Diaz walked and Randal Grichuk was hit by a pitch.

Maile then drove the second pitch he saw from Flynn down the right-field line, driving in his third run of the game and handing the Royals their seventh straight loss. Tyler Clippard (2-0) worked a scoreless 10th for his 50th career victory.

Danny Duffy allowed two hits in six scoreless innings, striking out eight in his longest outing of the season, before Toronto rallied off Kansas City’s bullpen.

After Justin Grimm walked the bases loaded to open the seventh, Maile drove a pitch from Brad Keller down the right-field line to score two runs. Pinch-hitter Devon Travis tied the game at 3 with an infield single, a grounder that third baseman Mike Moustakas couldn’t get out of his glove in time.

Steve Pearce singled up the middle to score Maile and put the Blue Jays ahead.

The Royals tied it on Alcides Escobar’s homer in the eighth, his first this season.

Toronto had runners at second and third with one out in the ninth, but Kevin McCarthy struck out Curtis Granderson and Justin Smoak in succession to end the threat.

Making his first start of the season, Joe Biagini allowed three runs on six hits, striking out four, in 5 2/3 innings. He plunked Lucas Duda to force in a run in the first.

Abraham Almonte homered in the sixth, the first home run this season from a Royals player other than Moustakas or Duda.

In the first game, Yangervis Solarte homered and drove in four runs and Grichuk went deep for the second time this season.

Solarte’s third homer of the season was a two-run shot off Erik Skoglund (0-2) into the second deck in the first inning.

Jaime Garcia (2-0) allowed back-to-back homers by Moustakas and Duda in the third. He gave up three runs on eight hits in five innings, walking one and striking out five.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: C Russell Martin and 2B Devon Travis started the opener but sat out the nightcap, the only two changes Toronto made to its lineup. … DH Kendrys Morales (right hamstring) is not expected to require a rehab assignment before rejoining the team. Morales went on the disabled list April 10.

ICED OUT

The Blue Jays were rained out twice in Cleveland over the weekend and then faced the first streak of three consecutive postponements in franchise history after chunks of ice fell from the adjacent CN Tower, puncturing several holes in the Rogers Centre roof. The biggest hole, over right field, was roughly 3 feet by 5 feet.

Roads, sidewalks and entrance gates on the east side of the stadium, next to the tower, remained cordoned off Tuesday, forcing detours for fans on foot. The tower itself and several nearby restaurants and attractions were also closed.

Kansas City was also the opponent for the only previous cancellation at Rogers Centre. That happened on April 12, 2001, after a collision between two panels of the stadium’s moving roof.

In the previous doubleheaders at the stadium formerly known as Skydome, Toronto swept the Los Angeles Angels on July 17, 1989, and the Cleveland Indians on Oct. 5, 2001.

DOUBLED UP

Kansas City has two more doubleheaders scheduled this month — Saturday at Detroit and on April 28 against the Chicago White Sox.

UP NEXT

Kansas City right-hander Ian Kennedy (1-1,1.00 ERA) starts Wednesday’s series finale. He won his previous road start this season, at Cleveland on April 7. Toronto turns to left-hander J.A. Happ (2-1, 3.94), who was originally supposed to start Tuesday’s second game. He gets an extra day of rest after his last start, a 7-1 win at Baltimore on April 9.

— Associated Press —

TORONTO (AP) — Even moving indoors couldn’t get the Blue Jays back on the field.

Toronto postponed Monday’s series opener against Kansas City after chunks of ice crashed down from the nearby CN Tower following a weekend of freezing rain, including one that punctured a hole in the Rogers Centre roof.

Andrew Miller, the Blue Jays’ executive vice president of business operations, was standing in the infield with two colleagues around 10:00 a.m. Monday, examining existing damage, when a falling piece of ice tore a hole about three feet by five feet in the PVC roof over right field, sending ice and pieces of insulation crashing onto the turf.

“We saw it happen,” Miller said. “It was pretty frightening. It was really loud. It sounded like fireworks or some kind of explosion going off.”

It’s the first postponement at Rogers Centre since a game against the Royals was called off following a collision between two panels of the stadium’s moving roof on April 12, 2001. The teams will play a doubleheader on Tuesday.

“If you come to a dome and get banged, something ain’t right,” Royals manager Ned Yost said about an hour before the game was called.

Monday’s starters, Kansas City left-hander Eric Skoglund and Blue Jays lefty Jaime Garcia, will start Game 1 on Tuesday. Game 2 will also feature a pair of lefties, with Kansas City’s Danny Duffy going against Toronto’s J.A. Happ.

Weather also wiped out Toronto’s game at Cleveland on Sunday, one of six games around the majors to be postponed. It was the second straight weather-related postponement for the Indians and Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays completed a two-year, $10 million mechanical upgrade of the retractable roof before the 2017 season, and this year are looking at replacing the roof cover, which dates from the stadium opening in 1989. The stadium’s artificial turf surface, one of two such fields in the majors, does not have drainage.

On Monday afternoon, light could be seen coming through the hole above right field, while tarps and batting practice screens surrounded the area on the turf below. Workers went on the roof and patched the hole around 4 p.m., and the Blue Jays said they still hoped to play. About an hour later, the game was postponed.

“We didn’t want to put players at risk, we didn’t want to put fans or employees at risk,” Miller said. “We just thought more information and more time would help us.”

Most of the outfield was cordoned off, and tarpaulins and buckets on both the infield and outfield were being used to catch leaks and drips.

Batting practice was also called off, but players from both teams played catch on the areas of the field that were still accessible.

The postponement came hours after a post on the Blue Jays’ official Twitter feed boasted the Rogers Centre was immune to weather woes. The since-deleted tweet, which included a winking emoji, read: “Weather update: Due to our stadium having a roof, today’s game will be … Played as expected.”

The Minnesota Vikings, who dealt with multiple roof collapses at their former home, the Metrodome, later tweeted a message to the Blue Jays saying “Been there, done that @BlueJays. We’re here if you need any support.”

Police blocked access to entrance gates on the east side of the stadium, next to the tower, because “relatively large” pieces of ice were falling onto streets and sidewalks below. Authorities said no injuries had been reported, but several windows in nearby office buildings were smashed and at least one car was struck.

Falling ice also made for a scary arrival in Toronto for the Royals, who flew in from Kansas City late Sunday after their game against the Los Angeles Angels was among those postponed. While the team was en route to its Toronto hotel, a flying chunk of ice broke the windshield of a team bus, showering the driver in glass. Reliever Blaine Boyer grabbed the wheel and helped bring the bus to a stop.

Rogers Centre wasn’t the only Toronto stadium affected by the weather. Water was leaking into the seating area at nearby Air Canada Centre about an hour before Monday’s NHL playoff game between the Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins. That game began on time. Saturday’s NBA playoff game at the same arena between the Raptors and Washington Wizards was delayed by a leak along the baseline.

The weekend ice storm resulted in power outages, canceled flights and road collisions across Ontario. More than 120,000 customers remain without power.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s third major league start will be pushed back to Tuesday as the Los Angeles Angels game Sunday at the Kansas City Royals was postponed because of cold temperatures.

After a day off Monday, the Japanese star will pitch Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox when the Angels will open a six-game homestand in Anaheim.

It was 31 degrees with an 18 mph wind, making it feel like 20 degrees on Sunday.

“Just the simple fact that I was going to be pitching in cold weather, that was a little worrisome for me,” Ohtani said through an interpreter.

“Also, I was worried my fingertips might lose the feel for the ball. That was one of the things I was worried (about).”

The game will be made up on June 25 in Kansas City.

“The Royals, Major League Baseball, talked to both parties just to kind of get an understanding of everything that was happening and where we were, and I think they made the right decision, just functionality, in every respect.” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

“I saw snow flurries out there again. Wind chill of 18 degrees. We’ve all played in cold weather. But at some point it crosses a line and I think today definitely crossed a line.”

Ohtani said he has had games postponed in Japan.

“This is not the first time this has happened,” Ohtani said. “I’m kind of used to it. It is what it is, so, I just have to get ready for Tuesday.”

Instead of facing the Royals, who are hitting .231 and rank last in the American League with 39 runs in 13 games, Ohtani will face a potent Red Sox lineup, which entered Sunday leading the American League with a .349 on-base percentage and second with a .445 slugging percentage.

“I was preparing for the Royals lineup,” Ohtani said. “Since it got cancelled, I haven’t had time to look at the Red Sox lineup or the data yet. I’ll get on that after this. I know they have a great team. They’re off to a great start. It’s not going to be easy.”

Royals manager Ned Yost had spent the morning studying Ohtani on video.

“I sat and watched Ohtani all day, probably every pitch he’s thrown all year long,” Yost said.

“I’ve watched all four hits he’s given up. Fastball down in the zone, 96 to 100 miles per hour, a tremendous split. He’s good a good slider. Fastball and split, it’s a deadly combination. You just got to go up and battle. I don’t know if you can have a plan against stuff like that.

“I think if you watch this kid he’s as talented as anybody you’ve seen in a long time. I think he’s just starting to get his feet on the ground now. What we’ve seen from this point is kind of the tip of the iceberg.

“When he gets really comfortable and understands the hype and everything that goes along with it, I think you’ll only see him get better and better.”

Royals rookie left-hander Eric Skoglund, who was scheduled to start Sunday, was pushed back a day and will start Monday in Toronto to open a seven-game trip.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Trout, Justin Upton and Luis Valbuena homered as the Los Angeles Angels won their seventh straight, beating the Kansas City Royals 5-3 Saturday night with the final innings played with snow falling.

The Angels won their ninth consecutive road game, and will Shohei Ohtani as their starting pitcher Sunday. The Royals have lost five straight.

Trout hit his AL-leading sixth homer, a two-run drive in the fifth off Jakob Junis (2-1).

Upton homered to lead off the fourth. Valbuena snapped Junis’ 16-inning scoreless streak with a leadoff drive in the third.

Angels right-hander Garrett Richards (2-0) did not allow a baserunner until the fifth, when he walked Lucas Duda to start the inning. Paulo Orlando got Kansas City’s first hit with one out and Duda wound up scoring on one of Richards’ three wild pitches in the inning.

Keynan Middleton worked the ninth for his fourth save in as many chances.

Drew Butera had an RBI single in the seventh that made it 5-2, but Whit Merrifield flied out with the bases full to end the inning. Mike Moustakas homered to lead off the Kansas City eighth.

VERSATILE WHIT

Merrifield started in center field for the first time in his career. He has also started at second, first, right and DH in the first 13 Royals games.

ROTATION ADDITION

The Angels used nine starters in their first 15 games. “We’ll be at a six-man rotation next week sometime,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. RHP Parker Bridwell, who made 20 starts last season and went 10-3, is the probable contender to join the rotation.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: C Salvador Perez (left knee strain) joined Double-A Northwest Arkansas for a rehab assignment. . OF Bubba Starling, who has a left oblique strain, will return to the field Monday in extended spring. . IF Adalberto Mondesi (right shoulder impingement) returned to the field Saturday in extended spring. Assistant GM J.J. Picollo said they want to get Starling and Mondesi about 40 at-bats before sending them out. . Orlando has a tender knee and was the DH.

UP NEXT

Angels: Ohtani, who didn’t bat Saturday night, will make his third big league start, all on Sundays. He is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA, beating Oakland twice. The weather forecast calls for temperatures in the 30s with a 20 mph wind. “I grew up, I was born in a cold place,” Ohtani said through a translator. “Playing a game like that, I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced that cold.”

Royals: LHP Eric Skoglund is looking for his first win since his big league debut on May 30, 2017.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Albert Pujols homered and drove in three runs, Ian Kinsler had three hits and a sacrifice fly that scored Shohei Ohtani with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Angels rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 5-4 on Friday night.

The Angels have won six straight and nine of 10. Their 12-3 start matches their best record after 15 games, set in 1979.

Zack Cozart and Ohtani, who doubled in his first at-bat, led off the eighth with singles off Justin Grimm (0-2). After Andrelton Simmons advanced the runners with a bunt, Luis Valbuena’s pinch-single scored Cozart and moved Ohtani to third. Kinsler’s flyout to center drove in Ohtani.

Blake Wood (1-0) worked a spotless seventh to pick up the victory. Keynan Middleton pitched the ninth for his third save in as many opportunities.

Pujols hit a two-run homer in the third with Kinsler aboard. Pujols’ two-out single in the seventh scored Kinsler.

Paulo Orlando had two hits, scored a run and drove in a run to lead the Royals. Lucas Duda had three singles and scored a run.

Royals starter Jason Hammel held the Angels to two runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Angels left-hander Andrew Heaney, who had elbow surgery last year, allowed four runs — one unearned — and seven hits over five innings in his first start. He walked one and struck out seven.

ANGELS’ PREFERRED LINEUP

For the first time this season, the Angels’ lineup included Kinsler, Cozart and Ohtani with the other six position players. Ohtani moved up to the seventh spot for the first time after batting eighth in his previous six DH starts. While Kinsler was on the disabled list, the Angels went 9-3 with Cozart leading off. Manager Mike Scioscia, however, opted to put Kinsler back at the top of the order, with Cozart batting sixth. “There was a lot of discussion of Coz staying there, but in the big picture of where we want to be in the long term, it has Ian leading off and Coz in a role hopefully with some guys on base,” Scioscia said.

ROSTER MOVES

Angels: RHP Felix Pena was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake to make roster space for Heaney.

Royals: RHP Brandon Maurer was optioned to Triple-A Omaha with an 0-2 record, a 12.46 ERA and allowing three home runs in 4 1/3 innings. He allowed three inherited runners to score Thursday on a triple by Ohtani. “I think it was obvious to everybody that the time was right,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He’s a better pitcher than that. He’s a guy that should be an eighth-inning guy. He’s a guy that should be able to close out games on days your closer needs a day. He’s got that really good stuff. It’s just he’s off kilter and out of whack. He just needs to go get some confidence, have some success and come back up and take that position.” RHP Kevin McCarthy was called up from the Storm Chasers.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Yost said C Salvador Perez (left knee sprain) would likely begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend. … OF Alex Gordon hit in the cages and did some soft toss in his first activity since Monday when he was diagnosed with a left hip labral tear.

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Garrett Richards will make his first start at Kauffman Stadium since August 13, 2015.

Royals: RHP Jakob Junis has not given up a run over 14 innings in his first two starts.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a bases-loaded triple in a five-run seventh inning to help the streaking Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 7-1 on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory.

Ian Kinsler homered on his first swing in his return to the Angels’ lineup, and Nick Tropeano (1-0) pitched shutout ball into the seventh for his first major league win since 2016.

Los Angeles has won eight of nine.

Ohtani drove a 1-2 pitch from Brandon Maurer to right-center, scoring Kole Calhoun, Andrelton Simmons and Luis Valbuena. The Royals walked Ohtani intentionally in the sixth with first base open and Simmons on second.

Ohtani is tied with Mike Trout for the Angels’ lead with 11 RBI in 26 at-bats. Trout went 3 for 4 with his fifth home run and has 55 at-bats.

Kinsler led off the game with a home run for the 47th time in his career, driving a 1-0 pitch from Ian Kennedy (1-1) out to left. Kinsler missed the previous 11 games with an adductor strain.

Tropeano, making his first big league appearance since July 18, 2016, limited the Royals to six hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He had elbow surgery in August 2016 and missed last season.

Tropeano threw 88 pitches, struck out six and walked two.

Kennedy was removed after six innings and 100 pitches. He allowed seven hits but just the one run on Kinsler’s homer.

The Royals, who have lost eight of 11, have scored a total of 32 runs — and 10 of those came in Monday’s victory over Seattle.

Lucas Duda singled home Mike Moustakas, who doubled, with two outs in the eighth for Kansas City.

LINEUP CHANGES

Royals DH Whit Merrifield hit fifth for the second time in his career. He batted second in the first 10 games of the season. “Whit has been a good table-setter, now let’s see if we can take him from a table-setter to a table-cleaner-upper,” manager Ned Yost said. Jorge Soler replaced Merrifield in the 2-hole and struck out four times. Merrifield went 0 for 4 and stranded three runners. . Angels INF Zack Cozart, who had started the first 13 games, 12 at second base, was given the night off.

ROSTER MOVES

The Angels optioned RHP Jamie Barria, who won his big league debut on Wednesday at Texas, and INF Ryan Schimpf to Triple-A Salt Lake.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Alex Gordon, on the disabled list with a left labrum tear, had 2009 surgery on a right labrum tear. He said this feels similar to 2009. “I feel like I’m a different stage of my career right now and surgery is the last thing I want to do right now,” said the 34-year-old five-time Gold Glove winner. He received a cortisone shot Monday and has been shut down since. “They’re pretty optimistic about it,” Gordon said. “The first thing they (the medical staff) said was, this doesn’t have to be surgery. You hear the labrum tear and you get down in the dumps. This is my last day of not doing anything. After today, I’ll have a lot better answers for you as far as how it feels and maybe the timetable upon the return.”

UP NEXT

Angels: LHP Andrew Heaney gets the ball Friday night in Kansas City, his first start of the year after beginning the season on the disabled list with elbow inflammation.

Royals: RHP Jason Hammel will try to build off Sunday’s strong outing. He threw six scoreless innings in a no-decision at Cleveland.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Scott Servais reclined in a chair in the visiting clubhouse at Kauffman Stadium, a big smile on the Seattle manager’s face, and spoke before the first reporter could ask a question.

“Long road trip, happy road trip,” he said. “Cold road trip.”

Most of it.

The weather finally turned Wednesday and gave Seattle a warm, sun-splashed afternoon in Kansas City, and Servais’ club made sure to relish the spring-like temperatures. Kyle Seager hit a go-ahead homer with two outs in the eighth inning, and the Mariners held on to beat the Royals 4-2 to wrap up a winning seven-game journey that covered 10 days and about 5,200 miles.

Seattle went 4-3 on its visits to San Francisco, Minnesota and Kansas City.

“I thought we played really good baseball, and getting these wins the past two games really sets the pace for us going home,” said James Paxton, who matched a career-best with 10 strikeouts over six sharp innings before turning the game over to the Seattle bullpen.

Nick Vincent (1-0) worked a perfect seventh, and Juan Nicasio retired three in a row after putting runners on the corners, before closer Edwin Diaz entered for the ninth.

Diaz worked around shortstop Jean Segura’s second error of the game to earn his fourth save.

“Our guys up and down the lineup, but probably the top of the lineup, have been outstanding, really driving the train for us,” Servais said. “I like where we’re at.”

The Royals’ Danny Duffy and Brad Keller turned a 2-2 game over to reliever Justin Grimm (0-1), and he quickly got the first two outs in the eighth. But after walking Mitch Haniger, the reliever hung a 1-1 pitch that Seager popped into the Royals’ bullpen in right field.

Seager also drove in a run with sacrifice fly in the first to provide most of Seattle’s offense.

“After the first inning really good, but you don’t get to subtract any inning from any outing,” Duffy said. “When I take the ball, I expect the bullpen not to be used much, and that hasn’t been the case. I was off in the first inning. There was no excuse for that.”

What turned into a pitchers’ duel Wednesday looked as if it’d be a high-scoring affair early.

Duffy gave up a single, walked three, withstood an ugly error by his catcher and at one point loaded the bases, only to escape the inning having surrendered just two runs.

Paxton countered by walking his first batter and allowing a single, but came through unscathed when Jon Jay was thrown out trying to steal third and Cheslor Cuthbert grounded out to end the inning.

The Royals eventually knotted the game at 2 in the fourth on Paulo Orlando’s two-out double.

Duffy’s pitch count did him in, and the left-hander was lifted after getting the first out in the fifth inning. He allowed four hits and three walks but also struck out seven.

Paxton scattered six hits and a walk while keeping the Royals at bay.

“Paxton did a great job of bearing down when we got runners in scoring position. We were 1-for-11,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Not real productive in that phase of our game today.”

STATS AND STREAKS

The Mariners’ Dee Gordon extended his hit streak to 16 games dating to last season. … Seager had four go-ahead homers in the eighth inning or later last season. … The Royals fell to 3-7, their worst start through 10 games since 2012. They’ve allowed 42 runs in their seven losses and no runs in their three wins. … The Royals’ Mike Moustakas went 2 for 4, his fourth straight multi-hit game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: DH Nelson Cruz (sprained ankle) did some running before the game. Servais said he hopes Cruz will be able to return to the lineup this weekend.

Royals: RHP Nate Karns (elbow inflammation) continues to throw side sessions, and Yost said the last hurdle to his return is some fluid on the outside of his elbow dissipating. Yost says that Karns will likely head to the bullpen when he returns.

UP NEXT

Mariners: After a day off, RHP Mike Leake takes the mound Friday night when the Mariners open a seven-game homestand with three games against the Oakland Athletics.

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy tries to build on a solid start to his season when the Royals begin a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.

— Associated Press —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Felix Hernandez thought his fastball command was the key against Kansas City.

Scott Servais thought it was his ace’s curveball.

Both gave the Royals fits Tuesday night.

The Mariners’ star right-hander bounced back from a miserable start in San Francisco to pitch into the sixth inning, and Guillermo Heredia homered to lead a big offensive outburst as Seattle rebounded from a blowout loss to the Royals with an 8-3 victory that evened their series.

“He was attacking the strike zone, and we talked about getting his curveball going and he really did,” Servais said. “Much more in control tonight and had good results.”

Hernandez (2-1) allowed three runs, six hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings, leaving primarily because his pitch count was driven up. His only big mistake came in the fourth, when Mike Moustakas turned on a 2-1 pitch and sent a two-run homer screaming into the right-field fountains.

But that was also just about the only offense the Royals could muster, one night after they piled up 10 runs to back a near-no-hit performance by Jakob Junis and their bullpen.

Eric Skoglund (0-1) was hardly as efficient or effective. The lanky left-hander allowed five runs, six hits and two walks in 4 2/3 innings. He was clearly rusty from a nearly monthlong layoff caused by rainouts and weather problems, hitting the first batter he faced and three in all.

“I felt better as the game went on,” he said. “I made some mistake pitches early in the game that cost us, but as the game went on I felt better and the confidence is there.”

As for not pitching in a game since an exhibition March 17?

“It is what it is, man. It’s baseball. It’s part of it,” Skoglund said. “I’ll just go out there and do everything I can to help the team win.”

Royals pitchers have plunked six Seattle hitters through the first two games of the series.

“(Skoglund) looked like he was rusty but our guys were putting good swings on him,” Servais said. “Up and down the lineup, we created a lot of traffic.”

Jean Segura had three hits and drove in two runs, and Mitch Haniger and Kyle Seager also had two RBI as the Mariners put together a pair of three-run innings to pull away.

“The whole offense was really good tonight,” Hernandez said.

The Royals tried to rally in the sixth, when they loaded the bases against Dan Altavilla. But the Mariners’ reliever struck out Paulo Orlando to preserve their 8-3 advantage, and James Pazos and closer Edwin Diaz wrapped up the last couple frames in tidy fashion.

“There are a lot of things we can build on off of tonight,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

STATS AND STREAKS

Diaz struck out the side in the ninth on 13 pitches. … The Mariners’ Mike Marjama had a leadoff double in the fourth, giving him five extra-base hits among his six career hits. … Heredia has homered twice in the last three games. … The Royals have allowed no runs in their three wins and 38 runs in their six losses. … Royals 2B Whit Merrifield had two hits, extending his home on-base streak to 19 games. … Moustakas has homered in six of his last nine games against Seattle.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: OF Ben Gamel (strained right oblique) is expected back Friday, Servais said. DH Nelson Cruz (sprained right ankle) and C Mike Zunino (strained left oblique) are close behind. … 1B Ryon Healy (sprained right ankle) was out of his walking boot Tuesday. He went on the DL the previous day, when he returned to Seattle to have his ankle examined.

Royals: OF Alex Gordon (torn left hip labrum) was placed on the DL prior to the game. Yost was optimistic the injury will not require surgery and that Gordon, a three-time All-Star, would be back in 10 days to two weeks. OF Abraham Almonte was recalled to take his place.

UP NEXT

Royals LHP Danny Duffy tries to bounce back from two poor starts when he takes the hill for the series finale Wednesday afternoon. He will face Mariners LHP James Paxton, who is also 0-2 this season.

— Associated Press —