After a torrential downpour in the Midwest caused the postponing of yesterday's game in Kansas City, the Seattle Mariners and hometown Royals need a good, old-fashioned doubleheader to complete their four game series at Kauffman Stadium today.

In game one, Nelson Cruz hit two HRs and the M's combined for a total of four homers as they raced out to an early 7-0 lead before hanging on late to win the opener today by a final tally of 8-7.

Seattle simply ran out of gas in the second half of the day getting dominated by rookie pitcher Jake Junis who went eight strong innings and retired the final 19 batters he faced en route to a 9-1 throttling of Seattle.

The Mariners head to Oakland next and remain just a game and a half back of the Royals and a game back of the Tampa Bay Rays in the battle for the second wild card playoff berth in the American League.

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