Seattle Mariners shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt falls to the ground after forcing out Kansas City’s Mitch Maier. The Royals won a slugfest, 17-12, on Sunday in Peoria, Ariz.

Seattle’s struggling pitching staff gave up more than 15 runs for the second consecutive day in a 17-12 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

A day after getting tagged for 16 runs by the Los Angeles Angels, Mariners pitchers allowed 22 hits and a nine-run inning to the Royals. Alberto Callaspo went 4-for-6 with three doubles and scored three times. Coco Crisp and Billy Bulter each had three hits as Kansas City finished with 11 extra-base hits.

“If spring training stats were a guarantee, we’d all be hanging ourselves right now,” Seattle manager Don Wakamatsu said. “You’ve got to think positively, and now is not the time to give up on your club pitching-wise. We’ll just keep working.”

Seattle starter Jarrod Washburn was rocked for seven runs and nine hits in the first two innings, although Kansas City starter Zack Greinke wasn’t any better.

Greinke, slated to pitch the second game of the season for the Royals, gave up eight earned runs and 10 hits in just two innings. All eight runs came in the second, when Seattle sent 13 batters to the plate.

“I didn’t want them to take me out. I still felt pretty strong,” Greinke said. “But they thought it would be better to throw in the bullpen than face more hitters.”

Greinke was scheduled to throw about 90 pitches, but was pulled after 52.

Seattle led, 10-7, entering the seventh before bullpen candidates David Aardsma and Roy Corcoran collapsed.

Aardsma walked the first two batters, then got a pair of outs. Then he fell apart.

Callaspo doubled to score a pair, and Tony Pena Jr. followed with a two-run homer. After another double, Aardsma was replaced by Corcoran, who allowed two RBI singles and Ryan Shealy’s three-run home run.