Perez breaks out of funk with homer as Kansas City Royals stop slide by beating Astros

For at the very least in the future, all went proper within the Kansas Metropolis Royals kingdom. Star catcher Salvador Perez seemingly dismissed any questions concerning the lingering results of his thumb harm when he hit a house run, doubled and drove in three of his crew’s six runs in a win over the AL West-leading Houston Astros.

The victory stopped the Royals’ five-game slide. Left-hander Kris Bubic tossed 5 scoreless innings in his first begin since having been demoted to the minors. Seven Royals gamers collected hits for they went 4 for 9 collectively with runners in scoring place.

The Royals scored all six of their runs within the sixth inning or later and all with two outs to beat the Astros 6-0 within the second recreation of the three-game sequence in entrance of an introduced 14,663 at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday. Rain delayed the beginning of the sport by 51 minutes.

The win, the Royals’ fourth shutout of the season, additionally marked their 2,000th regular-season victory at Kauffman Stadium. It additionally evened the weekend sequence between the groups at a recreation apiece and arrange a rubber match for Sunday afternoon.

Perez went 2 for 4 with a double, his seventh dwelling run of the season and three RBIs for the Royals (17-34).

Perez’s 321st profession multi-hit recreation moved him previous Alcides Escobar for sole possession of ninth place on the franchise’s all-time leaderboard for multi-hit video games.

“That’s what I attempt to do each time, attempt to assist my crew win,” Perez mentioned. “I simply attempt to swing at good pitches. Hopefully, the crew begins to go a special manner (with) what occurred in the present day. Each time we win, it’s an important recreation.”

Whit Merrifield went 2 for 4 with a run scored, whereas Nicky Lopez went 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored.

Rookie shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. went 1 for 4 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored, and Hunter Dozier went 1 for 4 with two RBIs.

“You simply knew Salvy was going to do Salvy issues all through this yr,” Witt mentioned. “Possibly he was simply in a little bit little bit of a funk right here and there, however he’s again to being him. It was nice to see him try this and simply see that Salvy smile on his face.”

Andrew Benintendi’s career-best on-base streak ended at 24 consecutive video games.

Bubic stepped into the rotation spot vacated by Zack Greinke happening the injured record, and he didn’t permit a run in his first begin for the Royals since Might 4.

The Royals optioned right-hander Ronald Bolaños to Triple-A Omaha following Friday night time’s recreation to make room on the roster for Bubic.

Within the sixth inning with the rating 0-0 and neither offense having mustered a lot, Perez hit his first dwelling run since Might 14 (he was on the IL from Might 17-28), to provide the Royals a 2-0 edge. He additionally snapped a private 0-for-21 stretch

Merrifield singled to start out the inning, however the subsequent two batters — Benintendi and Witt — hit fly balls to convey Perez to the plate with Merrifield nonetheless caught at first base.

Perez, who’d been mired in a career-worst five-game hitless slide, blasted a 1-2 fastball left up and out over the guts of the plate. The 2-run homer, which landed within the visiting crew’s bullpen, tied Perez with Witt for the crew lead in dwelling runs.

“I believe (Friday) I obtained two or three strikeouts with the fastball up,” Perez mentioned. “So I type of tried to make changes. That’s why I like this recreation so much, as a result of we get alternatives. We simply have to attempt to make changes, assume what they’re going to attempt to do to you.

“After I obtained a fastball up. I believe it was. It was a great pitch too. I simply put the barrel (on it).”

In current days, Perez has publicly put the onus on himself to supply extra on the plate to assist his crew rating runs and win video games. He entered the day batting .182 this season.

“When a crew is combating to only discover themselves and looking for some good, you need your largest voices utilizing that voice,” Royals supervisor Mike Matheny mentioned. “And it’s arduous to do it once you’re combating various things and also you’re not feeling such as you’re producing such as you wish to.

“As a lot as everyone knows he has the credibility in that clubhouse and the utmost respect, he simply needs to do his half too. To have the ability to try this simply despatched a jolt by way of that dugout. Clearly, we wanted some runs, however the truth that he did that made it that a lot sweeter.”

Within the eighth, with the Royals nonetheless holding on tight to a two-run lead, Lopez’s double put an insurance coverage run in scoring place to start out the inning.

After a strikeout and a flyout, it seemed like they may need to make the 2 runs get up. Then Witt smacked an RBI single to heart to attain Lopez. Witt stole second to place himself in scoring place, and Perez hit an RBI double over the pinnacle of left fielder Yordan Alvarez.

The Royals didn’t cease there. MJ Melendez singled to place two males on, and Dozier ripped a two-run single to get them to 6 runs.

The Royals bullpen quartet of Collin Snider, Arodys Vizcaino, Josh Staumont and Scott Barlow pitched one inning apiece to safe the shutout.

The groups will conclude their three-game sequence on Sunday afternoon. The Royals will hand that ball to right-handed starter Jonathan Heasley (0-2, 4.66), whereas the Astros record left-hander Framber Valdez (5-2, 2.57) as their scheduled starter.

Taylor returns

Heart fielder Michael A. Taylor made his first begin since coming back from the IL on Friday. Taylor, final yr’s AL Gold Glove winner on the place, hadn’t performed since Might 17.

Taylor missed 14 video games when he went on the IL for COVID-related causes per the MLB well being and security protocols. He did a two-game minor-league rehab project with Triple-A Omaha this week.

He didn’t have successful (0 for 4) in his first recreation again.

This story was initially printed June 4, 2022 7:19 PM.