<\/p>\n
When Jac Caglianone homered in the sixth inning Friday night in Seattle, nobody was more excited than Kansas City Royals teammate Vinnie Pasquantino. <\/p>\n
Pasquantino pinched his fingers together in a traditional Italian hand gesture then greeted Caglianone at the top step of the dugout with a kiss on both cheeks.<\/p>\n
The only thing missing was the espresso machine from the Team Italy dugout at the World Baseball Classic.<\/p>\n
Pasquantino and Caglianone, who helped Italy place a surprising fourth in the tournament, both went deep in the sixth inning in the Royals\u2019 7-6 victory in the opener of a three-game series that continues Saturday in Seattle.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom Day 1 he took me under his wing in spring training,\u201d Caglianone said earlier this season. \u201cHe made sure once I got up to K.C. that my locker was next to his.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pasquantino had started each of the previous two games on the bench with lower back tightness. He showed no ill effects Friday, however, as he hammered a 95-mph fastball from Mariners right-hander Bryan Woo 404 feet off the facade of the second deck in right field. <\/p>\n
Pasquantino, who admitted to using a heating pad in the dugout, also had an RBI single in a four-run first inning.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe feels better,\u201d Royals manager Matt Quatraro said before the game. \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing for him to keep moving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pinch-hitter Lane Thomas\u2019 run-scoring single with one out in the eighth inning broke a tie for the Royals, who overcame a pair of two-run homers by Seattle\u2019s Julio Rodriguez to win for just the fourth time in 16 road games this season.<\/p>\n
Connor Joe and Randy Arozarena also homered for the Mariners, who had won six of their previous seven games.<\/p>\n
\u201cTough, tough loss tonight,\u201d said Mariners manager Dan Wilson, whose team rallied from a four-run deficit. \u201cThe one thing that stands out to me is how our guys really bounced back in this ballgame.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Mariners were without reliever Matt Brash, who was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier in the day with inflammation in his right lat.<\/p>\n
That proved costly in the decisive eighth, as instead of bringing in Brash to face Thomas they had to leave in lefty Jose A. Ferrer, who allowed the go-ahead hit.<\/p>\n
Saturday\u2019s game is set to feature a pair of right-handers in the Royals\u2019 Seth Lugo (1-1, 2.63 ERA) against the Mariners\u2019 Emerson Hancock (2-1, 2.86).<\/p>\n
Lugo is coming off his worst start of the season, in which he allowed seven runs on 14 hits in 6 1\/3 innings Sunday to the visiting Los Angeles Angels. He didn\u2019t get a decision as the Royals won 11-9 in 10 innings. Lugo is 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in three career appearances against Seattle, with two starts.<\/p>\n
Hancock took a no-decision Sunday at St. Louis in a game the Mariners won 3-2. He gave up two runs on seven hits over six innings. Hancock is 0-1, 7.50 in three career outings versus Kansas City, including two starts.<\/p>\n
\u2013Field Level Media<\/p>\n