Royals still basking in their All-Star moments

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals' All-Star trio returned with plenty of memories from their time spent in New York earlier this week.

Alex Gordon, Greg Holland and Salvador Perez entered Tuesday's game in the seventh inning for the American League squad and each played a role in the 3-0 victory.

"My adrenaline was pumped as much as it was just going in there and then I saw Salvy and Greg coming in and that made it even more," Gordon said. "It was very exciting and a fun time, and we experienced it all together."

Holland retired the first hitter he faced in the seventh with some help from Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, who made a terrific play to get Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt at first. Holland allowed a single to the Mets' David Wright in the next at-bat before the right-hander made an early exit.

Gordon flied out to deep center in his lone at-bat in the ninth inning, but made a big catch in left field with Yankees closer Mariano Rivera on the mound in the eighth to assist in his final inning.

"I was going to do anything to make a catch when Mariano was pitching," Gordon said. "It kind of froze me because it was a line drive right at me, but then I knew it was over my head so I tried to make it look as easy as possible."

Perez was also a big part of Rivera's final All-Star inning, as the Royals catcher was behind the plate for Rivera, named the game's MVP, as he retired the side in the eighth inning.

"It was unbelievable," Perez said. "Those are the best 10 minutes I will never forget in my life."

For a moment, with "Enter Sandman" blasting over the speakers, Perez and Rivera were the only two players on the field before the inning started. After three quick outs, the two embraced before returning to the dugout.

Perez also singled and scored in the eighth, becoming the first Royals player to get a hit in the All-Star Game since Bo Jackson had two, including a memorable mammoth homer in 1989.

"I was real proud of all three of them," manager Ned Yost said.

It was the first time since 1988 -- George Brett, Kurt Stillwell and Mark Gubicza -- that three players represented the Royals in the Midsummer Classic.

"It was a dream come true," Holland said. "We had 30 percent of the winning All-Star team out there in Royals colors, so that was pretty cool."