Royals' Perez ties Bench's HR mark with 45th in loss to A's

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez tied Johnny Bench’s record for homers in a season by a catcher with his 45th, but Chad Pinder’s two-run single spurred a third-inning rally and the Oakland Athletics held off the Kansas City Royals 7-2 Thursday.

Perez hit a two-run homer in the first inning, matching Bench’s total from 1970 for the most by a player who played at least 75% of his team’s games at catcher. Perez’s 45 homers and 112 RBIs both lead the majors this season.

“We’re witnessing a special season," manager Mike Matheny said. "We’re witnessing a special player. To be able to be put in the conversation with one most would say is the best ever is pretty rare.”

His talent is not lost on the opposition.

“Salvador, it seems like he’s hitting a home run a day against everybody,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. “You can’t miss against him right now.”

Oakland started the day 3 1/2 games behind Toronto, Boston and the New York Yankees for the two AL wild cards.

Pinder delivered a two-out hit during a four-run third inning in which Oakland had seven runners reach base — with just two hits. The A’s also scored three runs in the ninth on just one hit.

“We’ll draw some walks,” Melvin said. “Obviously there were some wild pitches that moved some runners up. We got big hits when we needed to. When you put a crooked number up, it has an emotional effect on the other side.”

The Royals had the tying runs on base with less than two outs in the sixth and eighth innings but couldn’t score.

Paul Blackburn (1-2) battled through five-plus innings for Oakland, yielding two runs on six hits.

Daniel Lynch (4-5) took the loss. He left the game in the third inning with left calf tightness with the bases loaded and a full count on Matt...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Royals-Perez-ties-Bench-s-HR-mark-with-45th-in-16465576.php