Salvador Perez catches George Brett atop Royals homer list
Perez hit career homer No. 317 as Kansas City rallied past San Francisco 5-4, with Lane Thomas driving in the go-ahead runs.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Salvador Perez joined George Brett at the top of Kansas City’s power chart Wednesday, and the Royals turned the milestone swing into a comeback win.
ESPN News Services reported that Perez hit his 317th career home run, matching Brett’s Royals franchise record, during Kansas City’s 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Kansas City, Missouri.
The blast was Perez’s 14th homer of the season, according to the report. It came in the bottom of the seventh inning, right after Vinnie Pasquantino doubled to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.
That seventh inning did a lot of work for Kansas City. The Royals had trailed after San Francisco pushed ahead behind a sixth-inning sacrifice fly from Luis Arraez, then added more damage in the seventh on an RBI triple by Jung Hoo Lee and an RBI double by Willy Adames, ESPN News Services reported.
Kansas City right-hander Seth Lugo had kept the Giants scoreless until the sixth, according to the report. He issued a leadoff walk and hit the next batter before Drew Cavanaugh moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt. Arraez then brought in the first run with a fly ball to center.
Lugo left after the seventh. ESPN News Services reported that he allowed three hits and two walks while striking out five, and he was credited with the win to improve to 4-6.
The Royals’ rally began with Pasquantino’s double, which stood after a replay review. ESPN News Services reported that Pasquantino slid past the bag, was ruled safe, and the call was confirmed. Giants manager Joey Vitello was ejected after arguing.
Perez followed with the record-tying home run, cutting into San Francisco’s lead and ending the outing for Giants right-hander Landen Roupp. According to ESPN News Services, Roupp gave up four hits and two runs while striking out seven.
Kansas City then kept pressing. The report said the Royals tied the game with three consecutive singles, the last from pinch hitter Nick Loftin.
With two outs and the bases full, Lane Thomas delivered the swing that decided it. ESPN News Services reported that Thomas singled to right-center, scoring two runs and putting the Royals in front.
San Francisco left-hander Sam Hentges took the loss, falling to 1-3, according to the report.
The Giants made one last push against Royals closer Steven Cruz. ESPN News Services reported that Cruz allowed a two-out home run, then got the final batter to pop out for his first career save.
The win wrapped a 5-4 final for Kansas City and gave Perez a share of one of the franchise’s biggest offensive records, tying a mark long held by Brett, the Royals’ signature name in the record book.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.