It all starts at the top for the Mariners.
As in Dee Gordon, Jean Segura and Robinson Cano, their first three hitters each of these first nine games.
They were again the catalysts in the Mariners’ 8-3 victory over the Royals on Tuesday to get Felix Hernandez his second victory and improve to 5-4.
But start with Gordon, who completely flustered the Royals from the start when he stole two bases and scored in the first inning before pushing his hit streak to nine games – as in each of the Mariners’ nine games.