|
 Iwakuma threw eight scoreless innings before telling manager
Lloyd McClendon that he was done for the night, then closer Fernando
Rodney did the rest in Seattle's 1-0 win over the Kansas City
Royals.
The Mariners (18-16) only needed two hits to win for the sixth time
in seven games. Corey Hart's third-inning RBI single was all the
offense Seattle and its starting pitcher needed in the 2-hour,
25-minute game.
Iwakuma (2-0) allowed just four hits without issuing a walk in his
second start of the season. He struck out seven batters while
throwing 93 pitches through eight innings of work.
"He gave us everything he had tonight," McClendon said afterward,
"and probably a little bit more."
Kansas City first baseman Eric Hosmer got two of the Royals' four
hits. He had a one-out single off Iwakuma in the first, then moved
to second on a groundout. No other Kansas City baserunner got past
first base until after Iwakuma left the game to open the ninth.
 "Today I was close to 100 percent," said Iwakuma, who missed all of
spring training and the month of April with a finger injury. "As the
game got deeper, I was able to command all of my pitches."
It was a much-improved outing over the four-run performance Iwakuma
had over 6 2/3 innings of his season debut five days earlier.
"He's getting better each and every time out," McClendon said. "But
there's a lot more room for improvement. It just goes to show you
how good he is."
Rodney survived a shaky start to the ninth inning to earn his 10th
save of the season. He walked two of the first three batters he
faced before getting a strikeout and game-ending groundout to finish
off the win.
Kansas City (16-18) had just six baserunners, only two of which got
past first base. No Royals player advanced as far as third base in
the loss.
Royals manager Ned Yost gave all the credit to Iwakuma.
"The best way I can describe it was that he just really pitched
effectively," Yost said. "He had a tremendous split (-finger
fastball), and he didn't make mistakes with it."
[to top of second column] |
Seattle DH Corey Hart drove in the only run of the game with a
third-inning RBI. Hart's two-out single drove in catcher Mike Zunino
from third base and came after the Royals intentionally walked
second baseman Robinson Cano in front of him.
Kansas City starter Danny Duffy (1-3) overcame some early control
problems to throw six solid innings, allowing just one earned run
off two hits. Reliever Kelvin Herrera retired all six batters he
faced during the seventh and eighth innings.
"He threw well," Hart said, "but our guy threw better."
NOTES: Kansas City 2B Omar Infante (back spasms) was not in the
starting lineup for the second consecutive game Thursday. Danny
Valencia, a natural third baseman, got the start again. ... Seattle
LHP James Paxton and RHP Taijuan Walker, two-thirds of the projected
starting rotation, are scheduled to do bullpen sessions in the
coming days as they rehab injuries. Paxton (strained lat muscle) is
slated for a session on Friday, while Walker (shoulder soreness) has
a Sunday session scheduled. Both players are currently on the 15-day
disabled list and are considered among Seattle's top prospects. ...
Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma was making his second start of the
season after missing all of spring training and the month of April
with a strained tendon in a finger on his pitching hand.
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