Kansas City, Mo. ? Dillon Gee had hoped to give the Kansas City Royals a strong outing heading into the All-Star break.

The first inning was anything but strong.

Robinson Cano and Adam Lind then homered in a five-run seventh inning, and the Seattle Mariners held off the Royals 8-5 on Sunday.

Gee (3-3) struggled early and picked up the loss, giving up three runs and five hits in 32/3 innings.

One of the key moments in Gee’s rough outing occurred in the first inning, when an errant throw on a double-play opportunity eventually led to Seattle’s first score.

“I kinda got caught in between when I came up to take a look at second,” Gee said. “It was right when the umpire was kinda, like, making his way into position, and I tried to slow up a little bit, and it sailed on me. Just a costly mistake”

Kyle Seager had a two-run single in the first, and Ketel Marte added a run-scoring single in the fourth to give the Mariners a 3-0 lead.

Cano’s two-run shot to deep right field for his 21st home run of the season extended the Mariners’ lead to 5-0. Lind hit a three-run shot, his 13th, a few batters later.

“A lot of good at-bats,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Guys were grinding. Definitely want to go to the break above .500. It was an important game for us today.”

The Royals scored five runs over the final three innings, pulling within three on Alex Gordon’s homer leading off the ninth.

Mike Montgomery (3-3) pitched 6 1/3 strong innings for Seattle, giving up one run and five hits, in his first start of the season.

Brett Eibner had three hits, including his third homer of the season in the seventh and an RBI single in the Royals’ three-run eighth.

Marte finished the game with two hits in four at bats.

“You know, see the ball, see the ball. If I feel good, I know I’ll get on base.” Marte said. “I know I’ve got the talent. I know I can hit. You know, I’m trying to come back and give a hundred percent every day and see what happens after.”

Kendrys Morales’ bases-loaded walk pulled the Royals to 8-2 in the eighth, and Cheslor Cuthbert capped the three-run inning with a sacrifice fly.

ROYALS AT THE ESPYS

After the All-Star Game on Tuesday, Eric Hosmer and Salvador Perez will attend the 2016 ESPY’s on Wednesday night in Los Angeles. Kansas City is nominated for “Best Team” and manger Ned Yost is nominated for “Best Coach/Manager”. This will be Perez first trip to the ESPY’s. “Yeah, it’s cool. The All-Star Game is a special moment, there’s a lot of top players there-a lot of All Stars. As for the ESPY’s, this is my first time going so that’s pretty good for us.”

SUCCESS AT THE BREAK

Despite the loss, the Royals went into the All-Star break with a winning record for the third straight season at 45-42. … Seattle finished the first half above .500 for the second time since 2010, after going 51-44 in 2014.

UP NEXT

Following the All Star break, the Royals travel to Detroit to face the Tigers in a three game series then come back home for a nine game homestead against Cleveland, Texas and Los Angeles. The Mariners return from the break for two series at home then will hit the road for the rest of July to face Toronto, Pittsburgh and Chicago.