KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Luke Hochevar turned around in plenty of time to see the fly ball in the eighth inning fall into the glove of centre fielder Jarrod Dyson, and then did a little leg-kicking shimmy off the mound. Thats about as much excitement as youll see out of the Royals reliever. Hochevar came on to retire Mariners with runners on second and third in a tie game, and then got credit for the win Tuesday night when Salvador Perez drove in Mike Moustakas in the bottom half of the inning to boost Kansas City to a 4-3 victory over Seattle. "Im not a big emotional guy," Hochevar said, "but sometimes the situation calls for it." The situation couldnt have been a whole lot more apropos. The Royals had already squandered a three-run lead, but instead of the Mariners pulling ahead in the eighth inning, the table was set for another dramatic victory. Billy Butler had just grounded into a double play against Seattle reliever Yoervis Medina (4-4) when Moustakas legged out a double to centre in the eighth. Perez followed with a single to left, and Moustakas had just enough time for a headfirst slide ahead of Endy Chavezs throw to home. "All the credit goes to Hoch," Moustakas said. "He came in a huge situation for us and did exactly what we needed to do. That guy saved the game for us." Actually, it was Greg Holland who saved the game. The All-Star closer tossed a perfect ninth for his 31st straight save and 38th on the year. Perez also homered and finished with three hits, and Alex Gordon added a homer for the Royals, who have won three straight and eight of their last 10 to climb back into playoff contention. The Royals (72-66), who began the day 4 1/2 games back in the AL wild-card race, have already matched their win total from last season. They havent had more than 72 wins since the 2008 season. "Thats all nice, but we have a long way to go," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Theres no sitting back and patting your back at 72 wins right now. We want to continue pushing, continue playing with confidence the way we are right now, keep winning a bunch more games." Kyle Seager hit a two-run shot for the Mariners, who have lost three straight. "Those are the type of situations with these young kids that theyve got to get comfortable being in," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "We got some great young competitors here, but they struggle in those types of situations to take advantage of them." The Royals took the lead on the first pitch of the game, which Gordon sent sailing over the outfield wall for the 12th leadoff homer of his career. The shot broke a tie with David DeJesus and Willie Wilson for the most leadoff home runs in franchise history. Perez made it 2-0 with his solo shot in the fourth inning, and the Royals manufactured another run in the fifth when Billy Butler sent an RBI grounder through the left side of the infield. That was all Seattle starter Erasmo Ramirez allowed in 6 1-3 innings. After getting recalled from Triple-A Tacoma, Ramirez scattered seven hits and three walks while striking out three. "I made a couple of pitches in the game, like the homer to Perez," he said. "That happens." Bruce Chen was just as stingy for the Royals early in the game. The soft-tossing left-hander allowed four weak singles through the first five innings before Franklin Gutierrez ripped a crisp base hit to lead off the sixth. Seager followed with his home run to right field, which cleared the visiting bullpen and landed deep in the seats. Seattle tied the game up in the seventh inning. Royals reliever Kelvin Herrera gave up a pair of singles, and Brad Millers groundout off relief pitcher Tim Collins knotted the game 3-all. The Mariners threatened again when they put runners on second and third with one out against Collins in the eighth inning. Hochevar struck out Mike Zunino and got Chavez on a fly ball to centre to end the inning, and walked off the field to a standing ovation. "We got some hits tonight," Seager said. "Its just kind of the same thing. They were able to make some good pitches and get out of a couple of jams." Notes: The Mariners added LHP James Paxton, RHP Chance Ruffin, RHP Hector Noesi and INF Carlos Triunfel from Triple-A Tacoma before the game. They also added Triple-A hitting coach Howard Johnson to the staff. ... The Royals added RHPs Wade Davis and Louis Coleman from Class-A Wilmington, and LHP Donnie Joseph and INFs Johnny Giavotella, Pedro Ciriaco and Carlos Pena from Triple-A Omaha before the game. ... RHP Taijuan Walker starts for the Mariners on Wednesday. RHP Ervin Santana goes for KC. Jalen Brunson Jersey . At a news conference Tuesday where it was thought that the fiery Schallibaum may be shown the door after a dismal finish to the Major League Soccer season, team president Joey Saputo said no decision has been made on whether the Swiss Volcano will be back in 2014. Mavericks Jerseys 2020 . -- Canadas Milos Raonic defeated Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France on Saturday to advance to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open. https://www.cheapmavericks.com/763l-tim-hardaway-jersey-mavericks.html. Mika Zibanejad and Jason Spezza scored in the shootout to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday night. Mark Aguirre Jersey . Pierre last November, only to watch St. Pierre leave the UFC octagon with his welterweight title belt and a split-decision victory. Dallas Mavericks Store .C. United on Wednesday night. Forward Bright Dike scored the games only goal in the 85th minute on a foggy night in Bradenton, Fla.How do you fall so far, so fast? After filling the trophy cabinet with all the silverware last season, it looks as though Leeds might not even make the Top 8. Results in the Premier League seem to have been mirrored in the Super League and Leeds losses have looked like those of Chelsea last autumn. Whats gone wrong?A colleague has suggested that last year was the anomaly because Leeds struggled in the four seasons prior to 2015, finishing sixth, third, fifth and fifth. Perhaps they were just very luck in 2015.One thing is certain: their attack is nowhere near as good as it was in 2015. Theyve scored less than half the number of tries than they did in the opening 10 rounds of last season.Why? Finishing opportunities and accuracyWell, it isnt due to a lack of field position. Most tries in rugby league are scored when a team get close to their opponents tryline (ie inside their opponents 20-metre zone). Comparison showing tries scored in 2015 and in 2016 after round 10 This year, Leeds have spent more time inside that area but seem to have forgotten how to score.After round 10 in 2015, Leeds had 260 play-the-balls in the oppositions 20-metre zone and had scored 32 tries.Fast forward to round 10 in 2016, and Leeds have had 320 play-the-balls in the 20-metre zone but have scored only 19 tries.In 2015, many of Leeds best tries came from some brilliant offloads. They still offload the ball as much but they have not been as effective.Leeds skill level seems to be a bit below the superb standard they set last year as theyve made significantly more handling errors in 2016.The opposition also know what is coming, so when Leeds do create that second-phase play, teams are ready for them.Personnel changesPersonnel changes have obviously had an impact, but I dont think you can blame their dip in form solely on the loss of experienced players. Jamie Peacock had the knack of getting the pass away to create space outwide That said, the absence of Kevin Sinfields goal-kicking may have cost them a victory or two this season.The Rhinos have lost five games in which they have scored the same number of tries as their opponents and their main goal-kicker, Liam Sutcliffe, has been successful in just over 60% of his goals.Zak Hardaker has just four successes from eight attempts and while Jordan Lilley has kicked well, he has spent less time on the field than the other two.Jamie Peacock did make metres for Leeds when he ran the ball, but they have other big forwards who can do that.What JP did better than his replacements was provide an accurate and well-timed pass that helped to create space out wide. Leeds are still waiting to see what Beau Falloon can do at hooker They managed to cover the injury to Paul Aiton at the end of last season, but a good hooker is essential to a good team and Leeds are still waiting to see what Beau Falloon can do.ddddddddddddWithout Tom Briscoe and Ryan Hall, they dont look as scary on kick returns, which are a vital aspect of the game.Hardaker isnt playing at the level that he did 12 months ago and they now look like a team under pressure, rather than a relaxed one. They could even be trying too hard.Training ground impactThe flooding of their training ground in December has probably had a bigger impact than I first imagined as their skill last year came as a result of the time and effort that they put into passing the ball more.Without a regular pitch to practice on theyve wasted time moving from one temporary pitch to another and its shown. In a way, they have an unfair advantage over several other sides who dont have the luxury of the training base that Leeds use.It looks like it will be several weeks before they return but they cannot wait that long until the start picking up the wins. Returning star Robert Lui inspired Salford City Red Devils to a 14-10 win over fading Super League champions Leeds Rhinos. Time is nowThere are many reasons why Leeds find themselves one place off the bottom of the table, but not many games for them to do something about it.By my reckoning, they need to win nine of their next 13 games, which wont be easy as six of the next seven are against teams already in the Top 8. However, as Hull showed when Jamie Shaul scored his try on Good Friday, things can turn around very quickly in sport.If ever there was a game to kick-start 2016, its at home to a Hull side that have won their past five matches on the bounce.Can Leeds get back to winning ways against Hull FC? Watch live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Friday from 7.30pm. Catch the match for &襛6.99 on NOW TV. No contract. Also See: WATCH: Baz and Tezs big hits! No self-doubt for Rhinos Follow @SkySportsRL Salford beat Leeds ' ' '