KANSAS CITY -- Baseball’s hottest team got one of its most dangerous hitters rolling again Wednesday night, but a rare bullpen collapse spoiled the Mariners’ chance at taking advantage of it.
Eugenio Suárez had his first four-hit game as Mariner, which included a two-run homer before he scored the game-tying run in the seventh, but reliever Matt Brash gave up a go-ahead two-run blast in the eighth in Seattle’s 7-5 loss to the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Brash gave up a season-high four runs, just the second time all season he gave up more than one run in his 50 outings, as the Mariners’ 10-game winning streak was abruptly ended after taking a late lead.
Seattle (83-69) is now tied with Houston (83-69) atop the American League West, pending the Astros’ game against the Rangers (79-73) on Wednesday night. The Mariners still remain two games behind the Tigers (85-67) for the second-best record in the AL, which earns a bye into the AL Division Series.
Starter Bryce Miller gave up a three-run homer to Salvador Perez in the first inning to put Seattle in an early deficit, but Suárez responded with a two-run blast in the second. Miller ran into trouble nearly every inning -- allowing two or more baserunners in four of his five frames -- but defensive gems, including Randy Arozarena’s dart home to nab Vinnie Pasquantino at the plate, kept it a one-run game.
Suárez scored the game-tying run after a leadoff double in the seventh before J.P. Crawford put the Mariners on top with a solo homer in the eighth, but Brash’s season-high four-run outing cost Seattle a chance at gaining ground in the postseason picture. Suárez then notched his fourth hit with a leadoff single in the ninth, but despite scoring his third run of the game, Crawford grounded out to third representing the tying run to end it.
The Mariners will go for a series victory Thursday afternoon before heading to Houston on Friday for a three-game set that will not only determine the playoff tiebreaker, but could very well decide the AL West.