KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez hit a line drive, three-run homer run to break open a close game and finished with four RBIs, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 7-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night.
Perez's blast in the seventh inning appeared to hit the wall below a railing in left field. The play was reviewed and the original call stood. The call prompted Boston manager Alex Cora to argue with home plate umpire Bill Welke, who tossed Cora.
Bobby Witt Jr. broke a 3-all tie with an RBI single prior to Perez’s home run.
Former Royals star Eric Hosmer made his Boston debut, returning to Kauffman Stadium for the first time since the final game of the 2017 season. He finished 0 for 3 with a walk.
Taylor Clarke (3-1) earned the win, despite blowing the lead in the top of the seventh. Darwinzon Hernandez (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs in the seventh.
Kris Bubic recorded his fourth straight quality start in a no-decision. He allowed two runs on four hits in six innings. He walked the first batter he faced and no more. He struck out six. Nick Pivetta allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out five.
The Red Sox led 2-0 three batters into the game. Bubic walked Jaylin Davis leading off and Davis went to third on a double by recently acquired Tommy Pham. Rafael Devers hit one down the left-field line for a two-run single. Bubic then got the next three batters to fly out.
MJ Melendez led off the bottom of the first with a home run. Bobby Witt Jr. then reached on an infield single. He stole second, advanced to third on a fly ball to center by Salvador Perez, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Vinnie Pasquantino.
Perez drove in Nicky Lopez with the go-ahead run in the fifth inning. Lopez led off the inning with a walk, but back-to-back strikeouts found him standing on first with two outs. After stealing second, he scored when Perez’s line drive was just beyond the reach of Eric Hosmer at first.
Kevin Plawecki drove in Christian Arroyo with the tying run with a two-out single in the seventh inning.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Royals will play the second game of a four-game series Friday night. RHP Zack Greinke (3-6, 4.41 ERA) will start for KC, with Boston’s starter to be determined.
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