Perez, Shields awarded Royals' September honors

KANSAS CITY -- Catcher Salvador Perez and right-hander James Shields were the Royals' Player and Pitcher of the Month for September.

Perez led the Royals with a .352 average, a .560 slugging percentage and 19 RBIs in the final month of the season. He led all Major League catchers in average and hits, 29, which included four homers, a triple and five doubles.

Shields had a 4-1 record in six starts with a 3.18 ERA and led the team with 39 2/3 innings pitched and 44 strikeouts -- most by a Royals pitcher in September since Bret Saberhagen's 48 in 1989.

As a team, the Royals' 17-10 record in September was their best this season. They were 14-10 in April, 8-20 in May, 16-11 in June, 15-10 in July and 16-15 in August.