|
 Martin, who was playing shallow with a runner in scoring position,
chased down a long fly ball from Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez,
catching it on the run before crashing into the wall to clinch the
victory.
"That wall is really hard," Martin said with a grin. "I hit my face
and chest. But I made the play, so it doesn't matter.
Another dominating performance from Hernandez helped extend Kansas
City's losing streak to four games. Hernandez (2-2) threw 7 2/3
shutout innings and got all the offense he needed on a Smith solo
home run to lead off the sixth. Seattle (12-10) had just one hit on
the night.
"That one hit was all we needed," Hernandez said.
The Royals nearly took the lead in the ninth, when Perez hit a
two-out shot toward the center-field wall with a runner on first,
but Martin tracked down the ball and made a running catch before
slamming into the wall to finish off the win.
 "I thought (Perez) might have got enough," Royals manager Ned Yost
said. "The centerfielder made a terrific play."
Mariners closer Steve Cishek, who threw the pitch to Perez, was
concerned from the moment it went off the bat.
"I didn't know what to think," Cishek said. "Obviously, it was a
loud out. It sounded really good off the bat. ... When he connected,
I was like: 'Please, Lord, let that stay in the park.' Then I saw
(Martin) track it, and I could tell he had a chance. He made an
awesome play."
Hernandez allowed five hits while seeing his season ERA drop to
1.38. He walked three and struck out four while throwing 115
pitches, his highest total since August 2014.
Smith gave the Mariners a 1-0 lead, and their first hit, with a solo
home run to lead off the sixth inning. Up to that point, Kansas City
starter Kris Medlen had thrown five hitless innings with four walks.
Two hitters after the Smith homer, Medlen issued his fifth walk and
was pulled after throwing 102 pitches.
"He did a nice job," Yost said. "The first two innings, he was off
his target and timing. In the third inning, he settled down and
started making his pitches. I thought he pitched great."
Kansas City (12-10) has lost five of six games while scoring four
runs or fewer in each of the defeats. Friday marked the first time
that the Royals had been shut out since April 5, when Noah
Syndergaard of the Mets handed them a 2-0 loss.
Cishek came on in the ninth to earn his sixth save of the season and
the 101st of his career.
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Smith had the home run and a pair of walks for the Mariners. It was
the 100th home run of his career.
"They're all special," Smith said. "Obviously that one, to be the
game-winner, it's a little more special. It's been fun. That's a
milestone that I'll be able to tell my kids about."
Kansas City had six hits. Center fielder Lorenzo Cain and first
baseman Eric Hosmer each had two hits for the Royals. Designated
hitter Kendrys Morales went 1-for-4 and nearly had the go-ahead
homer run in the top of the ninth, but his one-out shot with Hosmer
on first base drifted foul.
Medlen matched Hernandez for five innings. He issued four walks over
the first two innings but didn't allow a hit through the fifth.
Medlen walked the first two batters of the game and walked two more
in the second but found his control while recording 10 straight outs
through the end of the fifth.
After a 1-2-3 first, Hernandez pitched out of trouble in each of the
next three innings. Kansas City stranded runners at third base in
the second and third innings, then Hernandez got a double play to
get out of a fourth-inning jam while keeping the score at 0-0.
NOTES: Kansas City CF Lorenzo Cain was back in the lineup Friday
after sitting out Wednesday's game. Cain is hitting .203 this
season. ... Seattle starter Felix Hernandez was looking for his
first win over the Royals since July 2012 on Friday night. ...
Hernandez was seeking his 145th career win, which would match former
pitcher Jamie Moyer for the most career wins in a Seattle uniform.
... Kansas City's Friday starter, RHP Kris Medlen, had never
previously faced the Mariners. ... Both teams were coming off an off
day Thursday. ... Royals 1B Eric Hosmer extended his hitting streak
to 18 games with an infield single in the second inning.
[© 2016 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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