Royals’ Ventura throws 7 no-hit innings vs. Mariners

Yordano Ventura pitched seven innings of no-hit ball before being lifted because of pitch count, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 5-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.

Ventura, who threw 49 strikes in 88 pitches, retired the final 11 batters he faced after walking Seth Smith to lead off the fourth.

”If you’re throwing a no-hitter or a perfect game, you’re out of the game when you reach your pitch count.” The Mariners did not get a hit until Tyler Smith’s RBI single off Jason Frasor with one out in the eighth.

The Royals scored three unearned runs in the fourth after a fielding error on second baseman Tyler Smith.

Mariners: Paxton said it was bad location on the pitch Hosmer hit out.

Royals: Ventura had yielded 15 hits and eight runs in seven innings in his first three starts.

LHP Dave Rollins was having an outstanding spring — 1-0 with a 1.73 ERA in seven appearances — and the Rule 5 pick appeared on the verge to earning a spot in the Mariners’ bullpen before receiving an 80-game suspension after testing positive for an anabolic steroid.

Walker is scheduled to start Monday against the Angels, while Elias is not slated to start the next six games.

Walker has not allowed a run in five games and just six hits in 18 innings, while striking out 19.