Keller, Brach struggle as Royals get shut out 13-0 by Mariners

The Kansas City Royals have been dominant throughout most of the Cactus League schedule, but they struggled both offensively and defensively in Tuesday night’s 13-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Brad Keller struggled in his third start of the spring, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits and three walks over three innings. Brad Brach, a former All-Star trying to make the roster as a non-roster invitee, followed Keller and also had a rough outing. The 34-year-old right-hander surrendered five earned runs on six hits, including two homers, and a walk while striking out J.P. Crawford for his only out.

Carlos Hernández entered with one out and two runners in scoring position and got the Royals out of a jam in the fourth, inducing a Mitch Haniger groundout and then striking out Dylan Moore to end the frame. Hernández remained in the game and got back-to-back strikeouts to begin the fifth, but he gave up a solo homer to top Mariners prospect Julio Rodríguez before Crawford grounded out to end the inning.

Seattle’s offense cooled off after the fifth. Wade Davis struck out two in a scoreless sixth, then Scott Barlow also collected two strikeouts while allowing an unearned run in the seventh before Jesse Hahn and Eric Skoglund held the Mariners scoreless in the final two innings.

Five Mariners pitchers combined for the shutout, led by starter Justus Sheffield, who struck out six and allowed just two hits over four shutout frames. Casey Sadler, Will Vest and Joey Gerber then combined for four no-hit innings before Drew Steckenrider struck out three and gave up a hit in the ninth.

Adalberto Mondesi, Ryan McBroom and Freddy Fermin singled for Kansas City’s only three hits. Top Royals prospect Bobby Witt Jr. was held without a hit in a game he started for the first time this spring, striking out three times in four at-bats.

The Royals visit the Athletics on Wednesday for a St. Patrick’s Day matchup at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona. Mike Minor, who has excelled over his first two outings this spring, will start for Kansas City while lefty A.J. Puk makes his spring debut for Oakland.