Late rally lifts Royals over M's

SEATTLE (AP) - Neifi Perez doubled and scored in his Kansas City debut, and Paul Byrd pitched shutout ball into the ninth inning as the Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 5-1 Wednesday night.

Perez, acquired earlier in the day from Colorado in a three-team trade that sent Jermaine Dye to Oakland, went 1-for-5.

His double off Aaron Sele (12-2) sparked a four-run burst in the fourth inning.

Seattle, whose 74-29 record is the best in the majors, dropped to 6-4 since Edgar Martinez went on the 15-day disabled list July 16 with a strained left quadriceps muscle. They're averaging 3.5 runs without their regular No. 3 hitter.

The Mariners lost two straight for just the eighth time this season.

Byrd (2-4) broke his three-game losing streak and won for the first time since June 15. He walked one and struck out four in his first career appearance against the Mariners.

Byrd came within two outs of his second career shutout. Al Martin spoiled it with a sacrifice fly.

The last-place Royals took a 4-0 lead with five hits in the fourth.

Perez, Rey Sanchez and Mike Sweeney opened the inning with doubles to give Kansas City a 2-0 lead. Gregg Zaun had a sacrifice fly and Joe Randa added an RBI single.

Luis Alicea singled in the final run off Sele in the sixth.

Sele, who had won four in a row, lost for the first time since June 22.

Notes: Perez started at 2B and Rey Sanchez started at SS and went 4-for-5 with a double and triple. Royals GM Allard Baird said Perez will be the starting SS for the Royals after Tuesday's trading deadline. Baird said the Royals might trade Sanchez, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, before the trading deadline. ... Byrd, 30, pitched his fourth career complete game. ... The Mariners reached 2 million in attendance in their 48th home date with their 18th consecutive sellout. ... The Royals called up Endy Chavez from Triple-A Omaha before the game and he started in CF, where Dye started Tuesday night. They optioned C Hector Ortiz to Omaha. ...