By MATT PIKE
Salvador Perez tied the franchise home run record and Lane Thomas hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in a five run seventh to lift the Kansas City Royals to a 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Kauffman Stadium.
Royals starter Seth Lugo held the Giants scoreless until the sixth inning, when he gave up a leadoff walk and hit the next batter. After the runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Drew Cavanhaugh, Luis Arraez knocked the game’s first run across with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Willy Adames. The Giants struck again in the seventh inning with an RBI triple from Jung Hoo Lee, driving in Rafael Devers, and an RBI double from Adames that scored Lee to extend the lead, putting them ahead 3-0
Lugo exited after the inning, giving up three hits and two walks. He also had five strikeouts. Lugo would improve to 4-6 on the season earning the win, thanks to a five run bottom half of the seventh that started with Vinnie Pasquantino extending his hitting streak to 17 games with a double, then on the next at bat, Perez hit his 14th home run of the season and 317th of his career to tie the Royals’ franchise record. signaling the end of Giants starter Landen Roupp’s day. He allowed four hits and two runs and struck out seven.
The Royals pieced together the tying run with three straight singles, the third coming from pinch hitter Nick Loftin, driving in Micahel Massey. The Royals loaded the bases with two outs and Starling Marte and Loftin sccored on Thomas’ single to right center to give Kansas City a 5-3 lead. Royals closer Steven Cruz gave up a two-out home run to Casey Schmitt in the ninth inning, but popped out the final batter to earn his first career save.
At the plate, Perez was 1-for-4 with the home run and two RBI's. Thomas was also 1-for-4 with two RBI's, while Massey was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Next, Kansas City will travel to Detroit to open a four game series through the weekend. Randy Dobnak (0-0, 1.93 ERA, 7K's) is set to start for the Royals against Troy Melton (5-1, 1.80 ERA, 50K's) for the Tigers. First pitch is at 5:40pm, pregame will air at 5 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).
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