Salvador Perez happy to contribute to Royals’ scoring, but would rather have a win
For a few innings, it sure looked like Salvador Perez had come back and instantly saved the day for the Kansas City Royals.
Despite a surgically-repaired thumb, more than a month off and a pitcher on the mound that Perez had never gotten a hit against who was also pumping 100-mph heat, Perez delivered in a key spot as part of a five-run inning as the Royals roughed up New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole.
Perez’s first home run since June 20 quieted the crowd at Yankee Stadium and provided a shot in the arm for a Royals offense that had sputtered lately.
Ultimately, the wheels came off the bus for the Royals in the eighth inning as the Yankees rallied for an 11-5 win.
Had it been entirely up to Perez, he might have rejoined the team even earlier. But the hand surgeon who repaired the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb forbade Perez from playing in a major-league game any earlier.
“I don’t kind of understand that,” Perez said. “I think I was ready 12 days ago. I just listened to the doctor who did my surgery. That’s why he is one of the best. I don’t know what he did to my finger, but I thank him for whatever he put in my finger because it feels so good.
“After the second week, I didn’t feel any pain. I didn’t feel anything. It was kind of surprising. This was the day they put down. Sometimes I just need to follow what they tell me. I may not be happy, not agree. But I have to do it.”
Perez served as the designated hitter on Friday night, but he played catcher during his brief rehab stint in the minor leagues. He pointed out that he caught Carlos Hernandez, who throws close to 100 mph, and Perez said he hopes to catch Saturday with a day game after a night game.
Perez credited the Royals training staff and specifically named rehab coordinator Jeff Blum, head athletic trainer Kyle Turner and director of major league medical administration Nick Kenney.
“I think the mentality that I have is after the surgery you have one thing to do, work hard and get ready to be back,” Perez said.
The Royals trailed 3-0 going into the fifth inning as rain started to fall in the Bronx. Cole recorded two outs to start the inning on a Nick Pratto groundout and a Kyle Isbel strikeout.
Then rookie shortstop Maikel Garcia, recalled prior to Thursday’s game, lined a single to center field. Nicky Lopez singled on a sharply-hit ball that ate up Yankees shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and MJ Melendez beat out an infield single on a play that the Royals challenged via replay review.
That loaded the bases with two outs for Whit Merrifield.
With two strikes, Merrifield reached out and poked a 99-mph fastball off the outside corner just over the first baseman and into right field for a two-run single.
Merrifield’s single made it a one-run deficit for the Royals and gave them their first runs after going 31 straight scoreless innings.
Then Perez, who last played on June 21 and had thumb surgery a few days later, launched an 0-1 fastball to center field for a three-run homer in his third at-bat since coming off the IL. It traveled an estimated 424 feet, the first hit he’s had against Cole after having gone 0 for 11 in their previous meetings.
“Salvy being Salvy and just reminding us of how special he is,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said of that moment.
That was Perez’s 12th home run of the season, and it gave the Royals a 5-3 lead.
“It’s awesome,” Royals starting pitcher Kris Bubic said of Perez. “He has time and time again come through in the big moment. That was a pretty big moment right there. He’s always been clutch, always on the top step of the dugout. It’s good to have him back.”
Perez’s homer also put the Royals in position to rally for a win after trailing by three runs or more for the first time this season. Of course, they weren’t able to hold on and make that lead hold up.
“Every time we hit homers it feels amazing,” Perez said. “But the most important thing is trying to win the game. We didn’t tonight, so I feel like we didn’t do nothing. We’re in the big leagues to win.”
