CLEVELAND — Salvador Perez hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high six RBIs, and the Kansas City Royals won a doubleheader with Cleveland on Monday night, defeating the Guardians 9-4 and moving to within one game of first place in the American League Central Division.
The Royals opened the season with a 4-3 victory after Bobby Witt Jr.’s 27th homer and 11th since July 19 broke the tie in the eighth inning.
The Royals were nine games behind at the start of July but have chipped away at Cleveland’s lead with an AL-best 22-13 record since the All-Star break, and a win on Tuesday could move them into a tie for the top of the division.
“You couldn’t ask for more,” coach Matt Quatraro said. “It’s not the end of the world, but coming off a losing streak the last few days (against Philadelphia), our guys played extremely hard today and overcame that.”
In Game 2, the 34-year-old Perez, who started as catcher in hot weather and then served as the DH, hit a solo home run in the fifth inning after nearly striking out, then hit his sixth career grand slam off Tim Herrin in the sixth inning.
The nine-time All-Star catcher has 17 multi-home run games, tying him with Hall of Famer George Brett for the most in Kansas City history.
“He’s been awesome,” Quatraro said. “You could tell he was exhausted, physically and mentally, when he took over as catcher in his first game. Then to go out there and put together that at-bat was awesome.”
The Guardians, who have led the Central Division since April 14, are 0-8 in doubleheaders this season and 1-15 in their past two games.
But coach Steven Vogt doesn’t think anyone is hanging themselves.
“They’re professionals,” he said. “They know today was a tough day. Every time we have a tough day, they come back ready to win. This team doesn’t get discouraged. It’s not in their DNA. They all know where we are.”
Leading 5–4 in the sixth inning, the Royals loaded the bases and, after sending runners to home plate, Pérez smashed his 25th home run, 457 feet into the stands. Pérez’s home run tied him with Frank White for the most home runs in Royals history.
Jose Ramirez hit three doubles and became Cleveland’s star third baseman with two or more extra-base hits in 109 games, tying him with Tris Speaker for second-most in franchise history behind Earl Averill (135). Ramirez also recorded 30 home runs, 30 doubles and 30 stolen bases in a season for the second time.
Perez homered in the fifth inning, one pitch after getting a chance off Logan Allen (8-5).
Perez fouled off a pitch on 3-2 and catcher Beau Naylor appeared to catch the ball before it hit the ground, but umpire John Tampane looked into Naylor’s glove and noticed the ball was dirty, giving Perez new life.
Seizing the opportunity, he smashed his 24th home run into the stands to give Kansas City a 5-4 lead.
Tumpane made the same call in the sixth inning, this time after Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis was ejected for an altercation.
Willis felt that not only did Perez whiff, but he also missed the ball.
“I don’t think it hit the bat,” Willis said. “They called it, but the next pitch went over the wall and then the same scenario happened again a half-inning later. That pissed me off a little bit.”
In the opening game, Witt took a 0-1 pitch from rookie Hunter Gaddis (4-3) and hit a 413-foot fly ball into the left field stands.
The All-Star shortstop has batted .417 since the break, the fourth-highest batting average in the second half of a season (with at least 125 at-bats) since World War II, trailing only Ted Williams (.454 in 1957), Ichiro Suzuki (.429 in 2004) and George Brett (.421 in 1980).
It was just one of many notable moments to come in 2024 for Witt.
“He’s always there,” Quatraro said. “He doesn’t care what he did before or what he’s going to do tomorrow. He’s in the box and he’s going to beat you there. Bobby’s a special player.”
Tigers 6, White Sox 3 Spencer Torkelson hit a three-run homer in the bottom of a five-run seventh inning and Detroit beat Chicago for its fourth straight victory, improving to 31-101 for the majors’ worst team.
National League
Cubs 18, Pirates 8 Dansby Swanson hit a grand slam to close out an eight-run sixth inning, and Chicago stole eight bases — the most in a single game in over 100 years — on the way to beating Pittsburgh.
Padres 7, Cardinals 4 Manny Machado homered and had three RBIs, rookie Jackson Merrill also had three RBIs and San Diego beat St. Louis.
Rockies 3, Marlins 2 Ryan McMahon hit a game-tying home run in the sixth inning and Colorado beat Miami in a game between the National League’s worst teams.
Interleague
Phillies 3, Houston 2 (10) Bryce Harper hit a game-ending RBI single off Houston closer Josh Hader in the 10th inning to give Philadelphia a win over the Astros in a showdown between division leaders.
Yankees 5, Nationals 2 Gleyber Torres hit a leadoff homer, Aaron Judge played some stellar defense and New York beat Washington, spoiling the big league debut of rising star Dylan Cruz.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Nick Sandlin pitches during the first inning of the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Cleveland Guardians manager Steven Vogt, left, makes a pitching change during the sixth inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals in Cleveland, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)
Kansas City Royals player Bobby Witt Jr. (7) celebrates after hitting a double in the top of the third inning during the second game of a baseball doubleheader in Cleveland, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)
Kansas City Royals player Bobby Witt Jr. hits a double against the Cleveland Guardians in the third inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)
Kansas City Royals player Paul DeJong celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Cleveland Guardians in the top of the second inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)
Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez celebrate after Perez hit a grand slam against the Cleveland Guardians in the sixth inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)
Kansas City Royals player Salvador Perez celebrates after hitting a grand slam home run against the Cleveland Guardians in the sixth inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)
Kansas City Royals’ Salvador Perez (13) and Bobby Witt Jr. (left) celebrate after Perez hit a solo home run during the top of the fifth inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)