Salvador Perez hit a three-run homer that was the highlight of a six-run fifth inning, leading Kansas City to a 6-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday night in front of the Royals’ second-largest crowd of the season.
The attendance of 36,351 at Kauffman Stadium was only topped by the 38,775 on opening day.
The Royals, who are in third place in the AL Central behind Cleveland and Minnesota, are now 10 games over .500 at 57-47, surpassing last season’s win total.
“There’s no significance to that to me,” manager Matt Quatraro said about surpassing last season’s wins. “This is a different team. None whatsoever. We’re in a playoff race. That has absolutely nothing to do with anything I think about.”
But Brady Singer thought differently.
“It’s huge,” he said. “This team is incredible. We keep talking about it. Let’s continue to win games and continue to fight hard.”
Singer (7-6) was nearly perfect, giving up only two hits in seven innings while striking out five and walking two. The 27-year-old right-hander, along with Will Smith and Chris Stratton, held the Cubs to four hits.
“I think the two-seamer was really good,” Singer said. “It had a lot of movement. I was able to throw it back-door to the righties and to the front hip to the lefties. It helped me out a lot tonight.”
Kyle Hendricks (2-9) gave up six runs on eight hits in five innings in the loss.
“Honestly, I made all my pitches,” Hendricks said. “I did everything I wanted to do. The Salvy (Perez) one was the one bad pitch. He put a good swing on that. I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing. I feel like I’m throwing the ball well and giving us a chance.”
The fifth inning was crucial for both pitchers.
Singer hit Mike Tauchman with a pitch to start the inning. Dansby Swanson’s soft liner advanced Tauchman to third base, and Swanson moved to second on the throw. Singer then got Miles Mastrobuoni to ground out to second. Miguel Amaya hit a flyout to center, and Kyle Isbel threw out Tauchman at the plate.
