News

Encarnacion HRs twice in 6th, Mariners roll over Royals

Seattle Mariners third baseman Ryon Healy knocks down a drive from Los Angeles Angels' Jonathan Lucroy before throwing to first for the out in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 2, 2019, in Seattle. Photo: Associated Press/Elaine Thompson


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Edwin Encarnacion homered twice during an eight-run sixth inning, two of five homers for the hot-hitting Seattle Mariners during a 13-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night.

The Mariners have scored five or more runs in 11 of their first 12 games and have 32 homers in that span, the most ever by a team a dozen games into the season. The St. Louis Cardinals had 31 in 2000, according to STATS.

Encarnacion is the first Mariner to homer twice in an inning since Bret Boone and Mike Cameron both did it May 2, 2002 against the White Sox. Cameron tied a major league record with four homers in that game. The last player with a multihomer inning was Mark Trumbo of the Angels on April 15, 2016 at Texas.

It’s the second time in his career that Encarnacion has homered twice in an inning, also accomplishing it on July 26, 2013 with Toronto. He’s the fifth player to homer twice in an inning more than once, joining Alex Rodriguez, Jeff King, Andre Dawson and Willie McCovey, per STATS.

The Mariners improved to 10-2, the first team in the majors with double-digit victories.

Roenis Elias (1-0) pitched three scoreless, hitless innings in relief, helping Seattle cover when Felix Hernandez left after one inning with an illness.

Homer Bailey (0-1) allowed seven runs in five-plus innings.

Whit Merrifield led off the first inning with an infield single, extending his hitting streak to 29 games dating to last season. Merrifield’s streak is one shy of George Brett’s club record, set when he hit .390 in 1980.

Daniel Vogelbach connected leading off the second to give the Mariners a home run in their 12th straight game, a club record. They became the fourth AL team to do that since 1908.

Jay Bruce and Dylan Moore also went deep for Seattle.

Recent Headlines

17 hours ago in Sports

Paul Skenes tops 200 strikeouts as Pirates manage his workload

After surpassing 200 strikeouts for the first time in his career, Pirates ace Paul Skenes admitted it was good to get a breather. The NL Cy Young front-runner reached 203, fanning eight Orioles batters in Pittsburgh's 2-1, 10-inning loss to Baltimore on Wednesday night.

1 day ago in Sports

NBA will not rush judgment in Kawhi Leonard investigation, Commissioner Adam Silver says

The NBA will not rush to any judgment in its probe of whether a business relationship between Kawhi Leonard and a California company was legitimate or merely a way for the Los Angeles Clippers to circumvent salary cap rules, Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday.

1 day ago in Sports

NCAA bans 3 college basketball players for betting on their own games at Fresno St, San Jose St

The NCAA banned three men's college basketball players for sports betting on Wednesday, saying they had bet on their own games at Fresno State and San Jose State and were able to share thousands of dollars in payouts.

2 days ago in Sports

Aaron Judge hits 359th career homer, passing Hall of Famer Yogi Berra for 5th in Yankees history

Yankees captain Aaron Judge hit his 359th career home run in the first inning Tuesday night against the Detroit Tigers, breaking a tie with Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra for fifth place on the franchise list.

2 days ago in Sports

Eagles’ Jalen Carter avoids suspension, is fined $57,222 for spitting on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

Jalen Carter was fined $57,222 by the NFL but avoided another suspension after spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott seconds into the league's season opener Thursday night.