Royals Edge Mariners 7-6 on Thomas RBI Single

Pinch-hitter Lane Thomas delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning Friday night, propelling the Kansas City Royals to a 7-6 victory over the Seattle Mariners in the opener of a three-game series at T-Mobile Park.

With the score tied at 6-6, Salvador Perez led off the eighth with a double to left field, his second of the game. Carter Jensen followed with a groundout that advanced Perez to third base. Thomas then looped a liner to right-center off reliever Jose A. Ferrer, scoring Perez for the decisive run. Lucas Erceg pitched a perfect ninth inning for his eighth save of the season.

The Royals jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first inning against Mariners starter Bryan Woo. Maikel Garcia, Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino opened with consecutive singles, Pasquantino driving in the first run. Perez added a two-run double, and Isaac Collins doubled home Perez with two outs.

Seattle answered in the bottom of the first when J.P. Crawford walked and Julio Rodriguez hit a two-run homer to left field, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Connor Joe led off the fifth with a solo homer to left, pulling the Mariners within 4-3.

Kansas City extended its advantage to 6-3 in the sixth on solo...