Salvy's 1st steal since 2021 sparks Royals to 8th straight win

KANSAS CITY – Salvador Perez is a lot of things as he marches toward the end of what could be a Hall of Fame career. Speedster is not one of them.

But every now and then…

In the bottom of the second inning Sunday afternoon, the Royals’ slugger took off for second base and slid in safely for a stolen base. Yep, you read that right. With Tigers opener Jacob Waguespack on the mound and Royals outfielder John Rave at the plate, Perez took off for second, seemingly catching, well, everyone off guard. Tigers catcher Eduardo Valencia stood up to throw out his childhood hero but never released the ball as shortstop Kevin McGonigle ran to the base and Perez slid.

It was Perez’s seventh career stolen base, his first since July 21, 2021 – and his first at Kauffman Stadium since July 20, 2017.

Perhaps it was no coincidence that the Royals put up five runs in the second inning after Perez’s leadoff single and stolen base, an offensive outburst that set the tonein Kansas City’s 11-7 win over the Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. It marked the Royals’ eighth consecutive win, their ninth in the last 10 games and a perfect seven-game homestand with sweeps against the A’s and Tigers. The eight-game win streak is the club’s longest since an eight-game run from May 17-22, 2024.

Perez’s stolen base received a loud cheer from the crowd at The K on Sunday, and the Royals’ dugout was ecstatic to see the captain get his legs moving. Vinnie Pasquantino in particular was fired up, banging on the dugout rail and throwing his hands in the air. Perez was business as usual as he stood up and brushed the dirt off his uniform… and then flashed his Salvy smile back toward his teammates while doing the signature Jarrod Dyson speed gesture back toward the dugout.

That’s what speed do, right?

The Royals needed it all and more in Sunday’s back-and-forth affair with the Tigers. After starter Daniel Lynch IV allowed a run in the first inning, the Royals responded with the five-run second inning. The Tigers tagged Lynch and Mason Black for four runs in the fifth to tie the game, only for the Royals to immediately respond with four runs of their own in the bottom of the frame thanks to back-to-back RBI doubles from Pasquantino and Perez along with a two-run homer from John Rave. They scored two more in the eighth with back-to-back RBIs from Kyle Isbel – his second of the day and seventh this homestand – and Loftin.

Kansas City’s bullpen bent but did not break on Sunday. Three relievers pitched in the sixth to hold the Tigers to just one run in that frame. Jose Cuas only allowed one run in the seventh after loading the bases with no outs. But Nate Pearson and Steven Cruz shut it down in the eighth and ninth, respectively, to cap the homestand sweep.