Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals keep win streak alive in walk-off fashion
The Kansas City Royals have a flair for the dramatic.
And a recently developed habit of winning, too.
On Tuesday, the Royals pulled out another comeback victory, this time against the Houston Astros. KC overcame a three-run deficit to win its fifth consecutive game.
Royals captain Salvador Perez drove home the game-winning run in a 4-3 walk-off victory. The Royals improved to 7-4. Reliever James McArthur picked up his first win of the 2024 campaign.
“I think it was kind of a cutter up, maybe up and away,” Perez said of the walk-off hit. “I was just trying to do my job.”
McArthur worked two scoreless innings down the stretch. He escaped extra-inning trouble by stranding two runners in the 10th inning. McArthur also got a crucial defensive play from Royals star Bobby Witt Jr., who held a designated runner at third base.
“It was a huge turning point for us I think,” McArthur said. “Obviously, a super close game right there. We don’t (want) that run to score. ... It was huge, man. He is such a good player and such a good teammate. It was an awesome play.”
Later, McArthur struck out Jake Meyers to end the threat. It set the stage for Perez’s walk-off single. It was his eighth walk-off hit and ninth walk-off RBI in his career.
“We know we are going to play hard and we are going to do our best,” Perez said.
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Take a look back at Tuesday evening’s game...
Royals rally in 5th inning
The Royals were silenced early in the game. Astros starter Cristian Javier didn’t face much trouble his first time through the lineup. The Royals produced just two hits and trailed 3-0 prior to the fifth inning.
However, a leadoff walk switched the momentum.
Adam Frazier got aboard to start the fifth. Next, Hunter Renfroe singled to set up a prime scoring opportunity.
The Royals would manufacture a run in the following sequence: Kyle Isbel laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners. Maikel Garcia drove in Frazier with a sacrifice fly.
“He felt that was the best way he had to move those guys over at the time,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “It obviously led to us putting some runs up.”
Witt hit an RBI triple to further reduce the deficit. Moments later, Vinnie Pasquantino tied the game by reaching on a throwing error.
The Royals scored their first runs against Javier. In the process, they also snapped his 15-inning scoreless streak to begin the 2024 season.
“It was really just kind of narrowing the strike zone and being able to put together some at-bats and get some runs across,” Witt said.
Cole Ragans turns in uneven performance
The Astros peppered Ragans all night. Ragans allowed 10 hits and dealt with baserunners throughout his five innings of work.
In the first inning, Ragans surrendered three consecutive singles. Astros star Jose Altuve got aboard with a leadoff single. Yordan Alvarez, who finished 4-for-5 on the night, and Kyle Tucker followed suit.
Ragans worked out of the early jam and allowed one run in the frame.
“A lot of pitches through the first two innings,” Ragans said. “I felt like I finished strong and made some good pitches when I needed to: Bases loaded and two outs — and getting out of there with one (run scoring) — I thought that was really big.”
Alvarez did most of the damage on the night. Alvarez recorded an RBI single in the second inning. Later, he added an RBI double in the fourth.
Ragans allowed three runs and struck out five batters, but he earned a no-decision. Eight of the 10 hits allowed were recorded as singles. He induced 51 swings and 16 whiffs (31%) on the night, per Baseball Savant.
“I thought I made some bad pitches they made me pay for,” Ragans said. “But I also thought I made some good ones that they just put a good swing on.”
Next on the KC Royals schedule
The Royals continue their three-game series against the Astros.
Seth Lugo draws the start on Wednesday against Spencer Arrighetti, who will make his major-league debut. First pitch set for 6:40 p.m. Central at Kauffman Stadium.
This story was originally published April 9, 2024 at 9:56 PM.
