Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Alberto Callaspo and Mitch Maier hit home runs in the eighth inning, as the Kansas City Royals rallied past Seattle, 7-3, to complete their first road sweep of the Mariners in 15 years.
Callaspo's three-run shot was the big blow for Kansas City, which scored six runs in the final three innings in capturing the three-game sweep. It is the Royals' first road sweep of the Mariners since June 12-14, 1995, when Seattle played in the Kingdome.
Billy Butler also homered and finished with two RBI for the Royals, who have won six of seven.
Starter Kyle Davies allowed three runs on four hits and four walks in six innings, and did not take a decision. Victor Marte (3-0), Kyle Farnsworth and Joakim Soria each pitched a scoreless inning of relief to seal the win.
"We won that game in about nine different ways tonight," said Royals manager Ned Yost. "Defensively, Marte did a great job of shutting down the bases loaded. We had a time or two where Davies pitched out of some big jams. He actually threw the ball really well tonight."
Mariners starter Doug Fister turned in a good performance, allowing one run in six innings, but the club's bullpen faltered as Seattle lost for the sixth time in seven games.
Casey Kotchman homered twice to help the Mariners take a 3-2 edge into the eighth inning, but Brandon League (5-6) was ineffective and quickly gave up the lead. He walked David DeJesus and Butler before delivering a full-count sinker up in the zone to Callaspo, who hammered it to right to put Kansas City on top, 5-3.
League was removed for Garrett Olson, who got one out before giving up a solo shot to Maier that pushed the Royals' lead to three.
After Farnsworth struck out the side in the bottom half, Chad Cordero took the mound for Seattle and gave up a two-out blast to Butler that was ruled a home run after video review.
Farnsworth remained on the mound in the ninth and allowed the first two batters to reach base, then was pulled in favor of Soria, who got three consecutive outs for his 25th save.
"It comes down to two things in this ballgame -- a bases loaded situation offensively and not being able to score runs, and the bullpen," Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu said. "But I think that, if we score in those situations, it takes a lot of pressure off the bullpen."
Butler's sacrifice fly in the first got Kansas City on the board, but Kotchman hit a solo shot in the second inning to even the contest. Franklin Gutierrez worked a two-out walk in the sixth before Kotchman homered again for a 3-1 edge.
Yuniesky Betancourt scored on a wild pitch in the seventh to get the Royals within one, and Marte pitched a scoreless bottom half despite loading the bases with two outs. Seattle also had the bases loaded in the third, with one out, but failed to score.
The Royals recorded their first sweep in a series of at least three games this season. They also picked up their first series win in Seattle since August 30-September 1, 2002...Kotchman recorded his second career multi-homer game...Kansas City outfielder Jose Guillen did not play because of a left quadriceps strain suffered Tuesday...Kansas City begins a three-game set vs. the White Sox in Chicago on Friday...Seattle begins a four-game home series against the Yankees on Thursday.