Perez homer lifts Royals to 3-2 win over Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Salvador Perez hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning that carried the Kansas City Royals to a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night.
Perez's 16th homer came off Xavier Cedeno (3-3) after a single by Eric Hosmer. It lifted the Royals to their 12th win in their last 13 games against Tampa Bay.
Chris Young (3-8) got the win in relief, and Kelvin Herrera pitched the ninth for his third save.
The Rays scored twice in the fifth off starter Yordano Ventura without hitting the ball to the outfield. Logan Forsythe walked and later scored on Kevin Kiermaier's bunt single. After Brad Miller's infield single, Desmond Jennings scored Kiermaier with a groundout to shortstop.
Forsythe had three hits for the Rays, who left 11 on base and went 1 for 14 with runners in scoring position.