Joe Blanton is now 2-0 in two starts with the Royals (photo/MLB)

Joe Blanton is now 2-0 in two starts with the Royals (photo/MLB)

Joe Blanton improved to 2-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.73 after giving up one run on just two hits over six-plus innings. The 34-year-old beat out Mariners ace Felix Hernandez in a 4-1 Royals victory on Monday night in Seattle. He has allowed only one run in both of his starts and hasn’t walked a batter.  His last start in the majors prior to these two with the Royals were in June of 2013.

The Mariners took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a home run by Robinson Cano. Blanton retired the next 16 batters before giving up a double to Austin Jackson to lead off the seventh. Kelvin Herrera stepped in followed by Wade Davis and Greg Holland.  They all pitched one inning of relief and allowed no hits. Holland earned his 14th save in 15 opportunities.

Hernandez  fell to 10-4, allowing four runs, nine hits and a walk in 6.2 innings.   Alex Rios tied the game with a run-scoring single in the second. Rios scored Omar Infante’s double off the wall in right.  Mike Moustakas doubled in the third to drive in Alcides Escobar and give the Royals a 3-1 lead.  Escobar later drove in Jarrod Dyson with a single in the seventh.

Detroit beat Cleveland, Minnesota bombed out Chicago, the Tigers and Twins remain 5.5 and 3.5 games behind the Royals respectively.