KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Billy Butler homered to lead off the
bottom of the ninth inning and the Kansas City Royals outlasted the
Seattle Mariners 8-7 on Wednesday night.
Butler hit a 1-1 pitch from Josh Kinney (0-1) out to left center
for his 18th homer. Butler went 3-for-3 and walked twice.
Greg Holland (4-2) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.
Lorenzo Cain, who had a pinch-hit homer Tuesday, homered in the
fifth inning with Butler aboard. Cain, who also singled and scored
in the Royals' three-run second inning, is 10-for-20 in his
six-game hitting streak.
Royals starter Bruce Chen, who had an 11.85 ERA while giving up
24 hits and 18 runs in 13 2-3 innings in his past three starts,
gave up four runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings, walking none and
striking out six.
Chen gave up a solo home run to Kyle Seager in the second and a
two-run shot to Casper Wells in the fourth.