KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez hit a line drive, three-run homer run to break open a close game and finished with four RBIs, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 7-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night.
Perez’s blast in the seventh inning appeared to hit the wall below a railing in left field. The play was reviewed and the original call stood. The call prompted Boston manager Alex Cora to argue with home plate umpire Bill Welke, who tossed Cora.
“I saw a homer,” a smiling Perez said when asked about the call. “I looked at the umpire and he said it was a homer. So it’s a homer. I’m not going to argue with a homer.”
Even after the game, Cora maintained a different opinion.
“We all thought it was going to be overturned,” he said. “In our eyes, the ball was in the ballpark and in play. Probably a double and they score two. But not a homer.”
Bobby Witt Jr. broke a 3-all tie with an RBI single prior to Perez’s home run.
Former Royals star Eric Hosmer made his Boston debut, returning to Kauffman Stadium for the first time since the final game of the 2017 season. He finished 0 for 3 with a walk.
Taylor Clarke (3-1) earned the win, despite blowing the lead in the top of the seventh. Darwinzon Hernandez (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs in the seventh.
Kris Bubic recorded his fourth straight quality start in a no-decision. He allowed two runs on four hits in six innings. He walked the first batter he faced and no more. He struck out six. Nick Pivetta allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out five.
“It was the classic ‘get better as you go,’” Bubic said after the game. “Obviously, I’ve made a bad habit out of starting games poorly, but I was able to right the ship. The…