Royals continue to tumble. Inside Friday’s shutout loss to the Seattle Mariners
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- Noah Cameron allowed four hits in six innings and tied a career high with eight.
- Mitch Garver hit a two-run homer off Nick Mears, yielding two runs.
- Kansas City was shut out 2-0 for their fourth shutout and a 13-14 home record.
Kansas City Royals fans were treated to an old-fashioned pitchers’ duel on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium.
It didn’t end in the Royals’ favor, as the visiting Seattle Mariners shut out Kansas City 2-0 — handing the Royals their 10th loss in 11 games, and fourth in a row.
Left-hander Noah Cameron got the start for the Royals to open the three-game series, their fourth game of a nine-game homestand.
The St. Joseph native came in with 5.40 ERA. After enjoying a strong debut season last year, he had allowed three or more runs in his last five starts — and the Royals had lost four of those games.
Cameron saved his best stuff for the home crowd. He allowed just four hits across six innings and tied a career high with eight strikeouts. The Mariners couldn’t catch up to his four-seam fastball, which he utilized 34% of the time, per Baseball Savant.
Cameron induced 45 swings and 12 whiffs. His curveball registered five of his strikeouts. He settled for a no-decision but has now allowed three runs or fewer in 14 of 17 starts at home.
It was arguably his best start since an April 7 game against the Cleveland Guardians. But all of that was of little consolation after Friday’s setback.
“Just obviously trying to get as many zeroes for us as we can,” Cameron said. “Obviously a tough loss. You know, we’re definitely feeling it — definitely looking forward to getting back in the win column.”
That has not been easy for this team to do. Since May 6, the Royals have been outscored 64-43 and have lost 12 of 15.
“These losses suck,” Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said. “But for me, once 10 o’clock hits, it’s on to tomorrow. That’s all we can do. Pick ourselves back up and get ready to go.”
The Royals had no answer for Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert. The 29-year-old right-handed starter matched Cameron at every turn, surrendering just two hits — one to Pasquantino and the other to Maikel Garcia. He struck out six in 5 2/3 innings.
The Royals had a chance to break the scoreless tie in the sixth inning. Garcia reached with a single and advanced on a throwing error. Two batters later, Pasquantino drew a walk.
Royals captain Salvador Perez stood at the plate with two outs against Mariners right-hander Eduard Bazardo. The Seattle reliever retired Perez and the game remained scoreless.
“I think some of the at-bats were competitive,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “And there were some hard-hit balls with nothing to show for it against them as well. So, I mean, that’s part of it. You’ve got to have some batted-ball luck at times, and we’re not getting that right now.”
The game turned once Cameron exited. Royals right-handed reliever Nick Mears opened the seventh by walking Mariners leadoff man Cole Young. Seattle catcher Mitch Garver was up next, and — batting just .155 with one home run all year — he belted a two-run homer over the left-field wall.
“Just execute pitches,” Mears said. “Kind of all it really boils down to is just execute pitches. If you do that, no walk, no homer in a perfect world.”
The Royals were unable to respond. Their woes at the plate continued as they struck out nine times as a team.
Bazardo completely overmatched KC’s Carter Jensen, Jac Caglianone and Isaac Collins in the seventh inning, striking out the side with a sweeper/sinker combination.
The Royals had a decent shot to plate at least one run in the eighth. Michael Massey and Garcia reached with one out, so star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. represented the go-ahead run at the plate.
But he popped out and Pasquantino lined out to end the inning.
The Royals swept a series against the Mariners (25-27) in Seattle. It was a different story on Friday as they were blanked for the fourth time this season and fell to 13-14 at The K in 2026.
“We’re working on it and it hasn’t been our year yet,” Pasquantino said. “But we’ve got another opportunity tomorrow, and we’re going to be ready for it.”
What’s next: Royals right-hander Stephen Kolek (2-0, 4.24 ERA) starts Saturday afternoon opposite Mariners right-hander George Kirby (5-3, 3.45 ERA). First pitch is set for 3:10 p.m. Central Time at Kauffman Stadium.
This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 9:49 PM.
