Garver, Gilbert help Mariners get past Royals

Mitch Garver clubbed a two-run homer in the seventh inning, after Logan Gilbert was solid while pitching into the sixth, and the visiting Seattle Mariners edged the scuffling Kansas City Royals 2-0 on Friday night.

Gilbert allowed two hits and two walks while striking out six and never faced any real danger in 5 2/3 innings to open this three-game weekend series. Meanwhile, Kansas City starter Noah Cameron was just as stout as Gilbert, allowing four hits, two walks and matching a career high with eight strikeouts while throwing 96 pitches during six impressive innings.

But in the seventh, with Nick Mears (2-3) on the mound for the Royals, Cole Young walked to open the frame. Then, Garver, who is batting .177 and entered Friday’s contest with just one homer in 2026, sent a towering drive into the left- field seats for what proved to be the only runs of the ballgame. It was the third win in four games for Seattle, which is amid a 10-4 stretch on the road following a 1-8 start away from home.

Seattle managed just five hits on the night, but Garver and Julio Rodriguez posted two apiece.

Gilbert, Eduard Bazardo (3-2), Matt Brash and Andres Munoz (nine saves) combined to allow just four hits and strike out 10 against the Royals, who have totaled 28 runs while losing 10 of the last 11. Kansas City has also been outscored 22-8 during a five-game home losing streak.

Maikel Garcia had two hits for Kansas City, which posed its only true threat in the bottom of the eighth inning, when the hosts placed runners on first and second with one out with the heart of the order coming up. However, Brash got Royals star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. to line out to center fielder Rodriguez and Vinnie Pasquantino on a fly ball that right fielder Luke Raley grabbed to end the inning.

Kansas City had swept a three-game set at Seattle to open the month of May