Red-hot Perez not in starting lineup vs. Twins

MINNEAPOLIS -- Catcher Salvador Perez got a break from the Royals' starting lineup because it was a sizzling Thursday afternoon at Target Field -- as hot as Perez has been at the plate.

"I'd love to play Salvy, but it's hot and we've still got two weeks left in this [44 games in 44 days] stretch," Yost said.

So George Kottaras was behind the plate instead of Perez, who was 11-for-22 in his last five games with a double, four home runs and 13 RBIs.

Perez pinch-hit for Kottaras in the ninth inning on Thursday and banged another hit, a single to right field. Perez also caught Greg Holland in the ninth inning of the 3-1 victory.

Historical note: Perez's big Wednesday night (4-for-5, two homers) made him the first Royals catcher to have a multi-homer game with at least four hits since Darrell Porter in 1977.

Porter did it in back-to-back games, going 4-for-5 with two solo homers on Sept. 7-8, 1977, which were 10-7 and 7-2 victories over the Mariners at Seattle's Kingdome.

The Porter performances came during the Royals' remarkable 24-1 stretch en route to a 102-60 record and first place in the American League West.