KANSAS CITY (Interstat) — Mitch Garver hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning, and Eduard Bazardo pitched two scoreless innings of relief as the Seattle Mariners shut out the Kansas City Royals 2-0 on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium in front of 18,842 fans.

The game was a pitchers’ duel for six innings, with both starters effectively neutralizing opposing lineups. Seattle starter Logan Gilbert worked six innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out six. Kansas City starter Noah Cameron matched him, throwing six innings of four-hit ball with no runs allowed and eight strikeouts.

Seattle broke through in the seventh against Royals reliever Nick Mears. Cole Young drew a leadoff walk, and Garver followed by launching a fly ball over the left-field fence for his second home run of the season, scoring Young and giving the Mariners a 2-0 lead.

Bazardo entered in the seventh and retired the side in order, striking out two. He worked a perfect eighth as well, striking out one more. Andrés Muñoz pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save of the season.

The Royals threatened in the sixth, putting two runners on with a single by Maikel Garcia and a walk to Vinnie Pasquantino, but Salvador Perez grounded into a force out to end the inning. In the eighth, Kansas City again had two on after singles by Michael Massey and Garcia, but Bobby Witt Jr. lined out and Pasquantino lined out sharply to right field to end the inning.

Seattle managed five hits, led by Julio Rodríguez who doubled and singled. Garver’s homer was the only extra-base hit for the Mariners. Kansas City had four hits, with Pasquantino and Massey each going 1-for-3. Garcia also singled twice.

The Royals went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded six base runners. Their offense has struggled recently, scoring three runs or fewer in four of their last five games. The loss dropped Kansas City to 20-31 on the season.

Seattle improved to 25-27, snapping a two-game losing streak after dropping a series to the Chicago White Sox at home earlier in the week. The Mariners had lost three straight before Friday.

The game lasted 2 hours, 40 minutes.

The series continues Saturday with the same teams at Kauffman Stadium. Seattle will send left-hander to the mound against a Royals right-hander. After this three-game set, the Mariners travel to for a three-game series beginning Monday, while the Royals return home to host the New York Yankees.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Seattle Mariners 4, Kansas City Royals 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Seattle with a 53.90 percent probability to win. Seattle had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of 2 went over the over-under line of 8.