Salvador Perez smashed a two-run homer with two out in the eighth inning off reliever Bryan Shaw to lift the Royals to a 3-2 win over the Indians on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium.
Perez, who is the leading vote-getter for the American League on the latest Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot update, jumped on the first pitch, a cutter, he saw from Shaw. Eric Hosmer had led off the inning with an infield hit that appeared to be misplayed by third baseman Jose Ramirez.
“He got a cutter and he barreled it,” Royals manager Ned Yost said of Perez. “That was a huge hit for us.
“I had a really good feeling about Sal coming up there and doing something special. And he did.”
The Royals, who won their fourth straight, moved to one game back of the American League Central-leading Indians.
Indians starter Josh Tomlin kept the Royals off-balance with his cutter and sinker, and gave up one run through seven innings. He surrendered seven hits, but didn’t issue a walk and struck out five. It was Tomlin’s third straight quality start.
“He commanded. He competed. He changed speeds,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “There were some high-leverage innings because of the score of the game, but he was terrific.”
Right-hander Chris Young started for the Royals and went 4 1/3 innings, giving up five hits, including a home run to Carlos Santana in the third inning, and two earned runs. Young walked four and struck out four.
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