KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez hit a three-run homer that highlighted a six-run fifth inning and Kansas City beat the Chicago Cubs 6-0 Friday night in front of the Royals’ second-largest crowd of the season.

Friday night’s attendance of 36,351 at Kauffman Stadium was topped only by the 38,775 on opening day.

The Royals, in third place in the AL Central behind Cleveland and Minnesota, moved 10 games over .500 at 57-47 and eclipsed last season’s win total.

Brady Singer (7-6) was nearly flawless, allowing just two hits in seven innings while striking out five and walking two. The 27-year-old right-hander combined with Will Smith and Chris Stratton to limit the Cubs to four hits.

Kyle Hendricks (2-9) allowed six runs on eight hits in five innings in the loss.

The fifth inning was key for both pitchers.

Singer hit Mike Tauchman with a pitch leading off the fifth before Dansby Swanson’s soft liner sent Tauchman to third. Swanson went to second on the throw to third. But Singer got Miles Mastrobuoni to ground out to second. Miguel Amaya hit a flyout to center, and Kyle Isbel threw out Tauchman at the plate.

The Royals unloaded on Hendricks in their half of the inning. With two outs, Garrett Hampson had a bloop hit to right, and Kyle Isbel followed with a single through the hole at short. Isbel stole second before Adam Frazier drove in both runs with another blooper to right. Bobby Witt Jr. then singled and Vinnie Pasquantino’s single drove in Frazier. Perez then launched a 429-foot line drive homer down the left-field line to break open the game.

TRANSACTIONS:

Cubs: C Tomas Nido was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 25, with a right knee sprain. … C Christian Bethancourt was selected from Triple-A Iowa… P Ben Brown was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

TRAINING ROOM:

Royals: OF MJ Melendez began a rehab assignment in Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Thursday night. He went 0 for 3 with a sacrifice fly and a run. Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said it’s possible that Melendez could join the team this weekend. He’s been on the injured list since July 16, retroactive to July 15, with a sprained left ankle.

UP NEXT:

The Cubs will send LHP Shota Imanaga (8-2, 2.86 ERA) against Royals’ RHP Seth Lugo (12-4, 2.38 ERA) in the second game of the three-game series Saturday.

A Kansas City man has been charged with the murder of a teen following a shooting in Klamm Park last weekend.

LaRon Jaka Belcher III, 21, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Branden Jamal Baskin, 18. Baskin lived in Kansas City, Kansas, according to the Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office.

Wyandotte County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Klamm Park at 2515 N 27th St in Kansas City, Kansas, around 6:30 p.m. on July 21, The Star previously reported. Deputies found Baskin dead at the park, which is located behind KCK Fire Department Station 14.

Two other suspects, an adult and a juvenile, were arrested after the shooting, The Star reported. Belcher alone was charged with murder.

Court documents indicate that the shooting took place while Belcher was trying to sell or distribute some form of controlled substance.

Belcher was booked into the Wyandotte County Jail earlier this week, according to jail records. A Wyandotte County set his bond at $200,000 at a hearing Friday morning.

Belcher is set to next appear in court on August 6.

Baskin’s death was the 16th homicide reported in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2024, according to data collected by The Star. At the same time last year, 14 homicides had been reported in the city.

CINCINNATI — First, Ja’Marr Chase refused to say his name. Now, he’s getting trolled by the Raiders.

Las Vegas trolled Patrick Mahomes with a Kermit doll. Mahomes responded on Friday.

“Stuff like that happens,” Mahomes said. “It’ll get handled when it gets handled.”

Mahomes is 10-2 in his career against the Raiders. Trash talking him is a bold choice.

The Bengals play the Chiefs in Week 2. It’s reasonable to call it the best rivalry in the NFL. It would be shocking to see Cincinnati troll Kansas City that way and they’ve had head-to-head success against them.

A bold choice by Las Vegas. Check out the troll video and Mahomes’ response below:

For more on the Bengals, subscribe to our YouTube Channel and watch the video below:

Make sure you bookmark BengalsTalk.com for the latest Bengals news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

You May Also Like:

Look: Bengals Star Joe Burrow Walks in Vogue Fashion Show in Paris

Watch: Bengals Star Trey Hendrickson Holds Kids Camp

Josh Newton Discusses What’s Fueled His Journey to NFL: ‘One Offer Coming Out of High School’

Watch: Joe Burrow Chats With Jared Leto During Fashion Week in Paris

DJ Turner II Ready to Attack Second NFL Season: ‘I Just Left Some Plays on The Field’

Watch: Best of Joe Burrow’s 2024 Offseason

Dax Hill Brewing in Lou Anarumo’s Lab, Bengals Hope Former First Rounder Makes Successful Switch to Cornerback

The Athletic Picks Bengals Win Total as a Best Bet for 2024 Season

Bengals Star Orlando Brown Jr. Posts Heartfelt Message to His Dad on Father’s Day

A Pleasant Surprise: Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins Signing Franchise Tender

Zac Taylor Praises Ja’Marr Chase, Explains Why He Didn’t Do Much During Bengals Mandatory Minicamp

PFF Names Chase Brown, Jordan Battle on 2024 All-Breakout Team

PFF Ranks Geno Stone Among Top-20 NFL Safeties

Sheldon Rankins Details Return For OTAs: ‘Wanted To Make Sure I Got Back Out Here’

—–

Join the 44,000+ Bengals fans that subscribe to us on YouTube.

Follow us on Twitter: @BengalsTalkSI

Like Our Facebook Page

Subscribe and follow the ONLY Daily Bengals Podcast

Follow on TikTok