Mariners at Royals
The Seattle Mariners are off to a franchise-best 12-2 start and their power is leading the way entering Thursday's contest against the host Kansas City Royals as they look to complete a four-game series sweep. Seattle has homered in each of its 14 games to match the 2002 Cleveland Indians for the longest season-opening streak in major league history.
Mitch Haniger delivered an opposite-field, tiebreaking homer with two outs in the top of the ninth Wednesday to account for a 6-5 victory and the homer was the Mariners' 34th, tying the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals for most blasts through a team's 14 games. "It's a great start. These guys bring it every night," Haniger said in a postgame television interview. "We have a lot of hard workers in our clubhouse. Good energy and I am looking forward to keeping it going and winning more games." While the Mariners have won five straight games, Kansas City has lost nine in a row while getting off to a lackluster 2-9 start. Whit Merrifield extended his hitting streak that began last season to 31 games to break the franchise mark set by Hall of Famer George Brett in 1980.
TV: 1:15 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Mike Leake (2-0, 2.92 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jorge Lopez (0-1, 4.09)
Leake gave up two runs in each of his first two outings as he struck out 13 against two walks in 12 1/3 innings. The 31-year-old allowed two solo homers while giving up nine hits in 6 1/3 innings while beating the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. Leake is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against the Royals and has struggled with Lucas Duda (8-for-12, three homers) and Billy Hamilton (8-for-20, one homer) throughout his career.
Lopez received a no-decision Saturday when he gave up two runs (one earned) and five hits over six innings against the Detroit Tigers. The 26-year-old is making his third start this season and 12th of his career. Lopez is 3-7 with a 4.93 ERA in 22 big league appearances with the Royals and Milwaukee Brewers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners OF-1B Jay Bruce (Achilles) departed Wednesday's game in the fourth inning and is unlikely to start Thursday.
2. Kansas City OF Terrance Gore, a pinch-running specialist, started for the first time in 68 major league appearances and went 3-for-4 with a triple, a double and two stolen bases.
3. Seattle SS Tim Beckham (hamstring) returned from a two-game absence and went 1-for-4 on Wednesday to drop his average to .386.