KANSAS CITY — Jose Guillen hit a key two-run single after being sick the night before, helping the Kansas City Royals to a 5-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night.

Kansas City struggled against Seattle starter Ryan Rowland-Smith, staying close in a tight game on Ryan Shealy’s fourth homer in five games. Guillen, a late scratch the night before, came up with the big hit in the seventh, lining a two-run single off Roy Corcoran (5-2).

Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki was 3-for-3 to reach 200 hits for the eighth consecutive season, matching Willie Keeler’s major league record.

The Mariners (57-94) lost their seventh straight, moving a step closer to their first 100-loss season since 1983.

Gil Meche (12-11) pitched seven effective innings. He was knocked around his last outing, giving up six hits and 10 hits in five innings to Cleveland on Friday. Meche appeared to be in for another long night after walking Suzuki to start the game, then giving up Lopez’s two-run single.

Meche settled down after that despite working deep into most counts, benefiting from double plays in the fourth and fifth innings. He allowed six hits and two runs, with seven strikeouts and three walks.

Joakim Soria pitched the ninth for his 40th save in 43 chances.

Rowland-Smith was sharp after getting two tough-luck no-decisions his previous two outings.

The left-hander had the Royals out on their front feet with off-speed pitches most of the night, allowing a leadoff double to David DeJesus in the first inning and nothing else until Shealy hit a solo homer to left in the fourth.

Rowland-Smith got in a bit of trouble in the sixth, putting two on with two outs after a pair of walks. Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt helped him get out of it, making a diving stop up the middle, then throwing to beat Mark Teahen by a step for the final out.

Rowland-Smith didn’t come out for the seventh, working around four walks to put the Mariners in position for a rare win.

But just like the previous two starts, when he allowed three runs each, Rowland-Smith left with a lead and ended up with a no-decision.

Kansas City loaded the bases against Corcoran, helped by Betancourt’s fielding error on a potential double-play ball. The Royals tied it at 2-all on Mike Aviles’ chopper, then Guillen lined a two-run single up the middle just past a diving Betancourt, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games.

Alberto Callaspo added a run-scoring single in the eighth off Miguel Batista to extend his hitting streak to 11 games and put the Royals up 5-2.

Notes: Seattle LHP Erik Bedard will have exploratory arthroscopic shoulder surgery on Sept. 26. He’s been on the DL since July 5 with shoulder tightness. ... Suzuki is 10-for-15 career against Meche. ... Seattle has lost nine straight road games.