Salvador Perez has given Royals fans many wonderful moments over the years, and he provided another memorable moment Saturday.
Desperately trying to snap a five-game losing skid, the Royals and Astros were locked in a scoreless tie when Perez came to bat in the sixth inning. Facing Houston starter Luis Garcia, Perez stepped in having gone hitless in his last 22 at-bats.
That changed when Perez hit a two-run home run to left field, sparking the Royals to a 6-0 win, which marked the 2,000th home victory for the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Perez later added an RBI double in the eighth as the Royals scored four in the inning.
“Salvy stole the show for us,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said after the win. “That’s the guy we want to see coming through and feel that confidence that we know he has as an offensive weapon. And to hit the homer and then come back later and drive the ball again for a double, it was a great day for him.”
The night before, Perez struck out a couple times on high fastballs. But when Garcia delivered one in the sixth, Perez made the adjustment, getting on top of the ball and putting the barrel on it.
“That’s what I try to do all the time, I try to help my team win,” Perez said. “They know what kind of player I am.”
Wins have been few this season for the Royals as they are off to one of the worst starts in franchise history with a 17-35 record. Injuries have been a factor, and Perez recently returned to the lineup after missing 10 games with a sprained left thumb.
And Perez, who led baseball with 48 homers and 121 RBIs last season, got off to a slow start this year but is heating up.
“I’ve always said that the guys with natural leadership and character traits, when a team’s fighting to find themselves and trying to find some good, you want your biggest voices having that voice,” Matheny said. “You want them using that voice, and it’s hard to do when you’re fighting different things and not producing like you want to.
“And we all know he has the credibility in that locker room and has the utmost respect. And he just wants to do his part, too. And for him to do that it sends a jolt all the way through the dugout. But the fact that he did that made it that much sweeter.”
In Sunday’s series finale, Perez hit another two-run homer and added an RBI double. Now Perez is hoping the team can get on a hot streak and turn the season around.
“Hopefully things start to go in a different way,” Perez said. “Anytime we win, it’s a great day.”