Salvy inches closer to history as Royals win 10-5

On a night where Salvador Perez tied Jorge Soler’s single season record for home runs, the Royals bested the Cleveland Indians 10-5 in an offensive battle. It was Kansas City’s 73rd win of the season and 4,000th in team history.

After Daniel Lynch allowed a run in the top of the first inning, the Royals rudely welcomed Cleveland starter Zach Plesac, who was 8-0 in his career against Kansas City. Perez, one day after smacking his 47th home run, rocked a three-run shot to dead center field — tying Soler’s record that was set back in 2019.

Unfortunately, Perez was later removed from the game with a right ankle sprain, the club announced.

Back on the mound, Lynch struggled to miss bats. The left-hander worked through three-plus innings and allowed four runs on seven hits with two strikeouts. Joel Payamps relieved him in the fourth, but Cleveland managed to tie the game in the fifth on a Yu Chang double.

Greg Holland tossed two perfect innings of relief in the sixth and seventh — setting up the Royals to do damage off the Indians’ bullpen. In the bottom of the seventh, Kansas City did just that. With two outs and runners at first and second, Hunter Dozier came to the plate looking to break the tie. On a hanging 2-1 slider, Dozier pounded it off the wall in right-center field — scoring two runs. In the ensuing at-bat, Dozier came in to score on a wild pitch to make it 8-5.

Domingo Tapia pitched another perfect inning in the eighth and Hanser Alberto and Cam Gallagher added some insurance to extend the lead to five. Scott Barlow took the ball in the ninth and shut things down in a non-save situation.

The Royals, 73-85, finish their season series with the Indians tomorrow. 22-year-old Angel Zerpa will make his major league debut and face former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber. First pitch is slated for 7:10 p.m. CT.