Salvador Perez and Hunter Renfroe both hit two-run home runs during a five-run third inning on Friday night, helping the Kansas City Royals defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 in the first game of their interleague series between playoff hopefuls.
Perez, who had a good day playing Wiffle ball with neighborhood kids the day before, drove in three runs. Paul DeJong and Vinnie Pasquantino also contributed RBIs, bringing the Royals closer to first-place Cleveland in the AL Central.
“The Wiffle ball yesterday got me ready for today,” joked Perez, who also surpassed 900 career RBIs. “Pretty good night.”
Michael Wacha (11-6) extended his winning streak to seven games, allowing two runs on six hits in six innings while striking out five. He hasn’t lost a game since June 22 and hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in a start since June 4.
Lucas Erceg got his 10th save and fourth since being traded to Kansas City, despite facing a leadoff double in the ninth.
“It was hard work,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “They’re always going to make you work. That’s a talented team.”
For the Phillies, Taijuan Walker (3-5) struggled, giving up six runs on eight hits and a walk in just three innings. He has now allowed 30 runs on 43 hits and 18 walks over 38 innings in his last eight starts.
“In the third, everything was in the middle of the plate. It was a command,” said Phillies manager Rob Thomson, who didn’t say if Walker would make his next start.
“It’s more attacking the hitters, but then you don’t want to be in the middle of the plate all the time. It’s one of those things. He gets behind and then he has to come to the middle.”
