SEATTLE — Luis Castillo pitched seven shutout innings and the Seattle Mariners grabbed sole possession of first place within the AL West, beating the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Sunday to finish a three-game sweep.

Teoscar Hernández and Julio Rodríguez homered as Seattle received for the eleventh time in 12 video games. The Mariners additionally improved to a significant league-best 36-14 since July 1 for his or her greatest 50-game stretch since additionally they went 36-14 from April 23-June 18, 2003.

Seattle (74-56) and Texas have been tied for the AL West lead coming into the day, however the Rangers misplaced 7-6 to the Twins. Seattle trailed Texas by 7 1/2 video games on Aug. 15.

It’s the most recent the Mariners have had sole possession of first in a season since Aug. 24, 2003.

“We have a lot of baseball to go,” Seattle supervisor Scott Servais stated. “There’s no question about it. But we have played extremely well, really since the first of July. And it’s a testament to our players. They just keep their head down and focus on getting better.”

Castillo (11-7) allowed one hit, struck out six and walked one in his fourth consecutive win. The All-Star right-hander retired his final 13 batters.

PHOTOS: Luis Castillo stars as Mariners beat Royals 3-2 to seize sole possession of AL West lead

“It’s been awesome to watch him go out and do it every fifth day,” Servais stated. “And today he was as sharp as he’s been in quite some time. When your starting pitching is that consistent, you’re gonna be in a lot of games.”

Hernández put Seattle in entrance together with his third homer up to now two video games, hitting a 433-foot solo shot to middle off rookie Alec Marsh (0-7) within the second inning. It was his twenty second homer of the season.

Rodríguez additionally went deep for the second straight day, lining a two-run shot to left-center within the fifth to make it 3-0. It was his twenty third of the season.

Kansas City’s Nelson Velázquez minimize it to 3-2 with a two-run homer off Gabe Speier within the eighth. It was Velázquez’s eighth homer.

The Royals put runners on second and third with two outs within the inning, however Justin Topa struck out Salvador Perez to protect the one-run lead. Andrés Muñoz struck out the facet within the ninth for his tenth save.

“You can feel the positivity and the good vibes here,” Castillo stated. “It’s a team that just wants to go out there and win.”

Marsh allowed three runs and 5 hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out 9 in his seventh profession begin.

Kansas City misplaced for the tenth time in 12 video games. Nine of its previous 10 losses are by two runs or fewer.

“Super frustrating series,” Royals supervisor Matt Quatraro stated. “Really a frustrating road trip. Played better than what the results ended up.”

LAYING OUT

Seattle proper fielder Dominic Canzone made a full-extension diving catch on a slicing line drive by Maikel Garcia within the sixth.

PITCH MAGNET

Seattle’s Ty France was hit by a pitch for a franchise-record twenty eighth time this season when Marsh plunked him with a slider within the second. France additionally held the earlier mark, with 27 hit by pitches in 2021.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Zack Greinke (1-12, 5.34 ERA) faces Pittsburgh RHP Johan Oviedo (7-13, 4.46 ERA) on Monday to open a three-game collection at dwelling.

Mariners: Rookie RHP Bryan Woo (1-3, 4.58 ERA) begins towards Oakland on Monday to start a three-game set at dwelling. The A’s haven't introduced a starter.

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