Whit bests Brett, Gore goes all Gordo, but Royals lose ninth straight

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mitch Haniger hit a tiebreaking homer with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting the Seattle Mariners over the Royals 6-5 Wednesday night after Whit Merrifield extended his hitting streak to a Kansas City-record 31 games.

Merrifield’s RBI bunt single in the seventh tied it at 5 and moved him past Hall of Famer George Brett for the Royals mark.

Haniger took Brad Boxberger (0-2) deep, lifting Seattle to 12-2 following an offseason roster overhaul. The Mariners and the 2002 Cleveland Indians are the only teams since 1908 to homer in each of their first 14 games. The Mariners have 34 homers, tied with the 2000 St. Louis Cardinals for most ever through 14 games. Seattle has scored at least five runs 13 times.

Anthony Swarzak (1-0) got two outs in the eighth, and Roenis Elias worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth for his second save.

Seattle’s Jay Bruce, tied for the AL homer lead with seven, left the game in the fourth inning with tightness in his left Achilles tendon.

Kansas City dropped to 2-9 with its ninth straight loss.

Merrifield bunted with Terrance Gore on third in the seventh. He placed the ball perfectly up the third-base line and tipped his cap to a cheering crowd after reaching first without a throw.

Gore made his first major league start and had three hits in the game after entering with two hits over six major league seasons. His two-out double helped Kansas City threaten in the ninth, but after Merrifield was walked intentionally and Billy Hamilton drew a free pass, Adalberto Mondesi popped up to end it.

Yusei Kikuchi gave up three runs and five hits through six innings for Seattle. He retired the last 10 batters he faced after allowing the second of two home runs.

Jorge Soler hit a 454-foot home run in the third. Hunter Dozier also took Kikuchi deep.

LONG TIME COMING

Gore was part of the Royals’ back-to-back AL championships in 2014 and 2015 but usually as a pinch-runner. He has appeared in 67 games but had only 20 plate appearances. He got his first major league hit last season with the Chicago Cubs. He got his first hit with the Royals earlier this season.

“I don’t want to pigeon-hole him as a baserunner,” manager Ned Yost said. “I’ve watched him work his tail off — Alex Gordon-type work. I watch him take batting practice every day. He’s gotten stronger. His swing’s gotten better. As long as he’s working hard, I want to provide opportunity for him.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: SS Tim Beckham returned to the lineup after missing two games with a tight right hamstring.

UP NEXT

Mariners RHP Mike Leake (2-0, 2.92 ERA) will get the start for the Mariners in the final game of the four-game series. He’ll face Royals RHP Jorge Lopez (0-1, 4.09 ERA).