Stephen Kolek threw a complete-game shutout to lead the host Kansas City Royals to a 5-0 win over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.
Kolek (3-0), who threw his first complete-game shutout last May with the San Diego Padres, struck out two and limited the Mariners to four hits and one walk. On Saturday, he notched the Royals’ first complete-game shutout since Sep. 13, 2020.
Bobby Witt Jr. had two hits and two runs and Michael Massey contributed two hits. Carter Jensen was 1-for-2 with a run and two RBIs as the Royals picked up their first win on a nine-game homestand. Kansas City had started the homestand 0-4.
Luke Raley was 3-for-3 with a double for Seattle.
The Royals collected three hits and jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead.
Maikel Garcia lined a leadoff double to the left field wall and Witt reached on an infield single on a slow roller to third. With runners on first and third, Mariners second baseman Cole Young fielded Vinnie Pasquantino’s grounder but his flip to second was bobbled and Garcia scored on the error.
Pasquantino and Witt executed a double steal and both moved into scoring position. Jensen’s RBI groundout scored Witt, and Pasquantino came home on Jac Caglianone’s single to right field.
With runners on the corners in the second, Pasquantino snared Dominic Canzone’s sharp grounder, stepped on first and threw home, where Raley was caught in a rundown and eventually tagged out heading back to third to end the inning.
Witt and Pasquantino opened the third with back-to-back singles to center field. Salvador Perez flied out to right field and Witt tagged up and advanced to third.
Jensen lifted a sacrifice fly to shallow left field, scoring Witt, whose slide toward the front of the plate beat the tag and Kansas City led 4-0.
In the fifth, Raley started the inning with a flare single to left field. With two outs, he attempted to go from first to third on a passed ball, but Perez’s throw from up the first base line connected with Garcia, who tagged Raley as he slid into third.
The Royals extended their advantage to 5-0 on Isaac Collins’ RBI single in the sixth.
Mariners starter George Kirby (5-4) allowed five runs (three earned) on nine hits and fanned three in six innings.
