Olivares' HR, Perez's slam lift Royals over M's 8-7 in 12

SEATTLE (AP) — Edward Olivares hit a two-run home run in the 12th inning, Salvador Perez hit a grand slam in a second straight game and the Kansas City Royals beat the Seattle Mariners 8-7 on Friday night.

Olivares gave the Royals a chance to win twice after being called up, driving in the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th with a sacrifice fly before Luis Torrens drove in the tying run in the bottom of the inning.

“You just never know who's going to be the hero,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said. “He didn't even start the game.”

Perez became the 25th player in major league history to hit grand slams in back-to-back games when he launched one in the fourth inning, tying the game at 5-all.

It was the third straight game with a grand slam for the Royals, who are one shy of tying the major league record set by the San Diego Padres in 2020. Four other teams have hit slams in three straight games since 1895.

Perez has hit six home runs in the eight games on the team’s current road trip, bringing his season total to 36. The Royals have won six of those games. His 15 home runs since the All-Star break lead the AL.

“He's in a unique space doing what he's able to do on both sides of the ball,” Matheny said of the catcher.

Carlos Hernandez, Saturday’s scheduled starter, took over for starter Kris Bubic with an out in the fifth inning. He held the Mariners hitless, retiring 14 straight batters in regulation to keep the game tied.

“They really flipped the script on us,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said, adding of Hernandez, “He just absolutely slammed the door on us.”

Hernandez pitched the 10th, giving up his first hit to Abraham Toro. The infield single moved designated runner Kyle Seager to third, and he scored on Torrens’ deep sacrifice fly to the warning track in left,...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Olivares-HR-Perez-s-slam-lift-Royals-over-M-s-16418168.php