Mike Montgomery’s first major-league pitch at Kauffman Stadium – a sizzling 93-mph fastball, delivered in 91-degree heat at 1:32pm Central time Sunday – was thrown with as much cool as he could muster in such suffocating humidity.
The moment came years later than he once anticipated it would, and in a different uniform than he once hoped it would.
Finally given the chance to deliver on the promise many once had for him as Kansas City’s top pitching prospect, Montgomery again tormented the Royals with six-plus dominant innings in his first start of the season to send the Mariners into the All-Star break with an 8-5 victory Sunday afternoon.
“It’s definitely special,” Montgomery said, “and it’s cool to do it against your former team. At the same time, our team needed a win. Going into the break, it kind of gives us some momentum, and that’s really the main goal.”
Kyle Seager extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a two-run single in the first inning, and Robinson Cano and Adam Lind each homered in a five-run seventh to break the game open.
After losing five of six to start this trip, the Mariners (45-44) managed to split the four-game series against the World Series champs and enter the All-Star break one game above .500.
“We’ve managed to keep our head above water – barely above water – with all the injuries and whatnot,” manager Scott Servais said. “We’re starting to get healthy, and let’s see what we’ve got coming out of the break and get after it.”
It looks like they’ve got something in Montgomery (3-3), who has been one of the Mariners’ most reliable relievers this season. He has made known his desire to start again, and Servais said Montgomery will get at least one more chance to do so after the All-Star break. The Royals gave up on Montgomery a few years ago, trading him to Tampa Bay in the 2012 blockbuster that also included another top prospect, Wil Myers, going to the Rays for James Shields. He hasn’t given them much to hit since.
The 27-year-old left-hander had faced the Royals before – throwing a five-hit shutout against them as a rookie last year at Safeco Field, and pitching another scoreless inning in relief (also in Seattle) on May 1.
But he’d never pitched here, in front of the fans he had once hoped to pitch for. Worth the wait?
“Absolutely,” he said. “The fans here are exceptional, probably some of the best I’ve seen all year. To go here ... and pitch well, it’s definitely a good feeling.”
No, Montgomery said, he wasn’t throwing angry. He had admitted to having extra emotions when he faced them for the first time last year, but this time he tried his best to say calm and cool – not to easy with a heat index of 98 degrees.
Completing his biting curveball with a fastball that touched 95 mph, and mixing in the occasional cutter and changeup, Montgomery faced only one batter over the minimum through five innings Sunday.
He finished with one run allowed on five hits allowed, three strikeouts and no walks in 6 1/3 innings; he also benefited from two infield double plays and defensive gems from Seager and Ketel Marte.
“It was way better than what I was expecting,” Servais said. “I give him a lot of credit. Obviously, with the conditions - it’s hot – but he was very efficient.”
Montgomery took his scoreless streak to 16 innings against the Royals – and 16 2/3 innings overall this season – before Brett Eibner hit a one-out home run to left. That was it for Montgomery.
“It’s definitely satisfying,” he said. The Royals (45-43) staged a rally against the Mariners’ bullpen, scoring three runs off David Rollins. Alex Gordon homered off Steve Cishek to start the ninth inning, but Cishek struck out Salvador Perez to end it. Cano, set to participate in Monday’s home-run derby during All-Star festivities in San Diego, hit his 21st home run in the seventh inning, matching his career high before the All-Star break.

RESULTS
Toronto     6     Detroit     1
Miami     7     Cincinnati     3
NY Yankees     11     Cleveland     7
Washington     3     NY Mets     2
Chicago Cubs     6     Pittsburgh     5
Baltimore     4     LA Angels     2
Boston     4     Tampa Bay     0
Atlanta     2     Chicago W Sox     0
Houston     2     Oakland 1 (10 inngs)
St. Louis     5     Milwaukee     1
Seattle     8     Kansas City     5
Minnesota     15     Texas     5
Philadelphia     10     Colorado     3
LA Dodgers     3     San Diego     1