Moose, Gordon back Kennedy's gem, top M's

SEATTLE -- Mike Moustakas set a new career high with his 23rd home run, starter Ian Kennedy allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings and the Royals claimed the first game of a three-game series with the Mariners at Safeco Field with a 3-1 win on Monday night.
Whit Merrifield led off the game with a double and was brought in with a sacrifice fly from Lorenzo Cain, Moustakas led off the second with his homer and Alex Gordon added a broken-bat fly ball that went just over the right-field fence in the fifth to provide Kennedy (3-6, 4.44 ERA) with enough run support to pick up the win.
All four of Kennedy's surrendered hits were singles and he struck out seven batters in his third straight win in his last five starts after starting the season at 0-6.
"I felt great as the game went on with my mechanics and everything," Kennedy said. "I felt like I was on top of my fastball and getting ahead of guys and allowing us to get hitting again with quick innings."

Danny Valencia collected three singles but the Mariners' offense went dormant with only four hits to spoil a solid start from rookie pitcher Andrew Moore (1-1, 3.60 ERA) in his second career outing. The right-hander lasted eight innings and allowed three runs on five hits while striking out four and walking none, but was handed his first Major League loss.
"I thought Andrew Moore threw a very nice game," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "I thought he made some really nice in-game adjustments. Kansas City is very aggressive and they're very hot. That's team's been playing very well. So, tough matchup, they hit a few balls out of the park, we didn't get much going offensively."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Moose shows off muscle: In his first at-bat since it was announced he will participate in the 2017 T-Mobile Home Run Derby, Moustakas showed why he'll be putting his power on display in the event. He punished a home run over the right-field fence to give the Royals a 2-1 lead. It was hit with a launch angle of 33 degrees and traveled a projected 393 feed, according to Statcast™. More >
"I've been getting good pitches to hit and putting good swings on them, and they've been getting out of the yard," Moustakas said. "So it's been working pretty good for me at this point."

Close, but no cigar: The Mariners blew a chance to do damage in the second inning after Kennedy walked Kyle Seager, allowed a single to Valencia and walked Jarrod Dyson to load the bases. But the Mariners mustered their only run of the game on Kennedy's wild pitch that allowed Seager to score from third, as Mike Zunino and Boog Powell then both struck out to end the inning. More >

UPON FURTHER REVIEW
In the eighth inning, Royals leadoff man Merrifield tried to bunt for a hit but was called out at first by umpire Greg Gibson on a close throw by third baseman Seager. The Royals challenged the play and the call was overturned after a review of 31 seconds.

WHAT'S NEXT
Royals:Danny Duffy (4-4, 3.54 ERA) is scheduled to come off the disabled list to make the start on Tuesday at Safeco Field, with first pitch set for 5:40 p.m. CT. The left-hander, who was Kansas City's Opening Day starter, has been out since May 28, when he strained his right oblique muscle against the Indians in Cleveland. Duffy is 0-1 with a 2.01 ERA in six career outings (four starts) vs. Seattle.
Mariners:Félix Hernández (3-2, 4.66 ERA) will make his third start since returning from the disabled list in a 3:40 p.m. PT game against the Royals on Tuesday. He's relinquished three earned runs in each of his last two starts since being out for nearly two months with right shoulder inflammation.
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