Salvador Perez homers twice in 8-4 win over Yankees

Salvador Perez is a monster.

The big catcher homered twice on Tuesday night for the Royals, piloting them to a 8-4 win over the New York Yankees. Perez, the two homers being No. 28 and 29 on his season, has re-broken his own record for most homers in a season by a Royals catcher. It was also a good night for Whit Merrifield and Michael Taylor, who each had two hits.

Daniel Lynch’s command was shaky, but his high moments were really good. He generated a lot of swing and misses on the evening. As good as he’s been since being called back up, he wasn’t getting many strikeouts, totaling just six strikeouts in 14 innings against Detroit and Toronto. Last week against the White Sox, he struck out seven, and tonight he K’d six Yankees. His final line: 4.2 innings, four hits, three runs, four walks, and six strikeouts. He threw an even 100 pitches.

Lynch was given an early 2-0 lead thanks to the first of Sal Perez’ two homers, but he coughed up three runs and ultimately left in the fifth down 3-2. The Royals wasted little time getting him off the hook, as Whit Merrifield doubled, stole third, and scored on a throwing error. The Yankees re-took the lead in the sixth at 4-3, but just like last night, the Royals answered, as Perez swatted a solo homer to make it 4-4.

It was all Royals from that point on, as Emmanuel Rivera lined a two-out single, and Hunter Dozier miraculously came through with an RBI double. He was thrown out trying to make it a triple, because of course, but it moved his batting average over .200. Ryan Lefebvre and Rex Hudler called it “refreshing.” Whew.

In the seventh, Michael A. Taylor doubled, and Hanser Alberto bunted him to third. But the throw to first went wild, allowing Taylor to score and moving Alberto into scoring position. He would later score on - what else - a bunt by Nicky Lopez. 7-4. An eighth run was added in the eighth on a sac fly by Alberto.

Another thing of note was how good the Royals’ bullpen was. With one out in the sixth, Josh Staumont was called in to clean up a mess, and he got the next four men out - three via strikeout. Wade Davis, who has been really, really good since returning from the IL, breezed through a shutout eighth frame that was 2015-like. Scott Barlow mowed down the Yankees in the ninth. In all, these three combined to retire the last 10 hitters they faced.

The Royals are 49-63. As much as I want them to tank and secure a higher draft pick, screw the Yankees. They had four errors and it was great. I hope all of those dorks in the Kauffman Stadium seats wearing their Walmart Jeter shirts went home sad.

*obligatory WHY WAS EDWARD OLIVARES SENT DOWN grumble here*

Tomorrow: day game, 1:10 pm start. Rubber game. Brady Singer returns from the IL.