Royals

Royals

Mike Zunino accounted for both Seattle runs as the Mariners completed a three-game sweep over the Kansas City Royals with a 2-1 victory on Sunday.

Zunino homered among his two hits and was driven in by Willie Bloomquist’s game-tying double in the fifth. Brad Miller also supplied two hits for the Mariners, who completed their first three-game sweep in Kansas City since May 25-27, 2007.

“We knew we had our hands full with them, but we stepped up to the challenge and took three from them,” said Bloomquist.

Starter Roenis Elias (7-5) conceded just one run on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts across 6 2/3 solid innings to earn the win.

Justin Maxwell drove in Kansas City’s lone run and Salvador Perez had two hits for the Royals, who have lost four straight after winning 10 in a row.

“We’re not worried about the four in a row,” Kansas City designated hitter Billy Butler said. “That whole series could have gone either way.”

Yordano Ventura (5-6), who entered the game with three straight wins, was tagged with the loss after giving up two runs on six hits in seven frames.

Alex Gordon and Perez both singled to open the second. Gordon moved up to third on Danny Valencia’s line out and came home on Maxwell’s sacrifice fly to shallow center, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Seattle tied the game in the fifth. Zunino led off with a double to left and Bloomquist stroked an RBI double down the right-field line.

Zunino gave the Mariners a 2-1 lead in the seventh with a leadoff shot over the wall in left.

Omar Infante singled off Yoervis Medina to lead off the bottom of the eighth and advanced to second after Danny Farquhar balked with one out. Butler lined out to second and Gordon struck out to leave Infante stranded.

Fernando Rodney pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21st save of the season.