Merrifield has 2 HR, 6 RBIs to lift Royals over Mariners 9-0

Whit Merrifield had two homers and a career-high six RBIs, Homer Bailey pitched into the eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 9-0 on Tuesday night.

The Royals jumped on struggling starter Yusei Kikuchi to get their third straight win. Kikuchi (3-5) allowed six runs in five innings.

Merrifield drove a three-run homer against Kikuchi in the fourth and added a two-run shot against Jesse Biddle in the eighth. Jorge Soler also homered for the Royals, and rookie Nicky Lopez had three hits.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi throws against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

Bailey (6-6) was crisp and efficient, allowing just one runner past second base with six strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings. He stranded two baserunners in each of the first three innings, then retired 14 of the next 15 batters.

Alex Gordon opened the scoring with a two-run single — the Royals' third straight hit to start the game — for a 2-0 lead. Soler pushed it to 3-0 with his 20th homer in the third and Merrifield made it 6-0 with his shot. Merrifield also had a sacrifice fly.

Kikuchi has had an unsettling June after a fairly positive start to his major league career. He's now 0-4 since May 25 and has allowed eight home runs during that stretch.

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, right, looks down as Kansas City Royals' Whit Merrifield runs the bases on his three-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

TRAINER'S ROOM

Royals: Adalberto Mondesi left the game with right groin tightness. Team officials said he's day-to-day.

Mariners: Felix Hernandez was scheduled Tuesday to have an MRI on his right shoulder. The right-hander left his rehab assignment at Triple-A Tacoma on Friday due to fatigue and was scheduled for the scan of his right lat and the back of his shoulder after a visit with doctors Monday. Seattle manager Scott Servais said the development is not good news for the 33-year-old, who has been out since May 12. "It's concerning enough to take new images of that (injured area) and not guess," Servais said.

CORRECT STHAT HOME RUN WAS BY JORGE SOLER IN THE THIRD INNING - Seattle Mariners center fielder Mallex Smith leaps at the wall but is unable to catch a home run by Kansas City Royals' Jorge Soler during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Brad Keller (3-8, 3.97 ERA) tries to stop a run of seven losses in eight appearances since April 22.

Mariners: LHP Marco Gonzales (7-6, 4.50 ERA) is looking for his third straight win since stopping a six-game losing streak.

Kansas City Royals second baseman Nicky Lopez (1) leaps out of the way after forcing out Seattle Mariners' Mac Williamson (12) at second base to end the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Homer Bailey throws to a Seattle Mariners batter during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

Kansas City Royals' Billy Hamilton (6) leaps against Whit Merrifield as they celebrate the team's 9-0 win over the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)

Seattle Mariners second baseman Dee Gordon throws to first for the out on a grounder by Kansas City Royals' Alex Gordon during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 18, 2019, in Seattle. (AP PhotoElaine Thompson)