Salvador Perez finishes 8th inning Rally in Royals Win

Sep 2, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) drives in the winning run with a single against the Texas Rangers in the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City won the game 2-1. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Salvador’s Perez’s 2-out single in the 8th broke a 1-1 8th inning tie as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Texas Rangers 2-1 at Kauffman Stadium Tuesday night.

Starter Jeremy Guthrie went 7 innings, while allowing only 1 run on 8 hits. He left the game tied 1-1. Jason Frasor picked up the win (4-1) after escaping a jam in the 8th inning to keep the game tied.

The win puts Kansas City 15 games over .500 at 76-61. The Royals remain 1/2 game ahead of the Tigers in the A.L. Central, after Detroit beat the Indians 4-2 in Cleveland.

On the Mound

Jeremy Guthrie pitched 7.0 innings, allowing 8 hits, 0 walks, and 1 earned run with 1 strikeout. Guthrie left with the game tied 1-1.

Francisley Bueno recorded the 1st out of the 8th inning.

Jason Frasor relieved Bueno in the 8th and escaped a jam with a strikeout after he gave up a single, stolen base, and a walk to put runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 outs.

Aaron Crow returned to Kansas City and earned a save despite giving up a 1hit in the 9th. Greg Holland was unavailable after pitching 3 days in a row. Crow showed that the “2nd team” of relievers can finish off games.

At the Plate

Kansas City took a 1-0 lead when Alcides Escobar led off the 2nd with a double, advanced to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt by Christian Colon, and scored on Nori Aoki‘s double.

The Royals took a 2-1 lead in the 8th when Salvador Perez singled up the 3rd base line off Adrian Beltre‘s glove to score Jarrod Dyson from 3rd with 2 outs.

Overall, the Royals managed 8 hits against the Rangers, which included 6 doubles.

This and That

The Royals helped out their pitching staff out by turning 3 double plays for the second straight night.

Terrance Gore made his first appearance for the Royals after getting called up from AAA Omaha as a pinch runner for Mike Moustakas who doubled to lead off the 8th. Gore got thrown out trying to advance to 3rd on a tapper by Nori Aoki.

Jarrod Dyson stole 2nd and 3rd in the 8th inning to put himself in position to score the winning run on Perez’s line drive to 3rd.

KC Kingdom Player of the Game

Salvador Perez gets our nod for the 2nd straight day by driving in the winning run in the 8th. Perez went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI.