Perez has 2-run double in Kansas City's 5-run 2nd, Royals beat Padres 5-4
Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Scott Barlow celebrates with teammate catcher Freddy Fermin after the Royals defeated the San Diego Padres 5-4 in a baseball game Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in San Diego. Credit: AP/Gregory Bull
SAN DIEGO — Salvador Perez hit a two-run double in Kansas City's five-run second, Brady Singer pitched six solid innings and the Royals beat the San Diego Padres 5-4 on Tuesday night to snap a four-game losing streak.
The Royals jumped on starter Seth Lugo (3-3) in the second, with Bobby Witt Jr., Nate Eaton and Matt Duffy also driving in runs. Lugo gave up five runs on four hits in his two innings. The Padres have lost eight of 10.
“That was really good for us tonight. That is a great win, you know, against a team like the Padres. They are a really good team,” Perez said. “We scored five runs, and we got the game.”
Singer (3-4) lasted six innings, giving up seven hits and four runs, two of which were earned. Scott Barlow got his fifth save with a scoreless ninth.
"The fastball had really good late movement on it. I was able to move that around the zone. The slider helped me a lot tonight," Singer said. “I think I attacked the zone pretty well tonight.”
San Diego had a defensive highlight in the seventh when Fernando Tatis Jr. threw-out Vinnie Pasquantino trying to go from first to third on a single. After the play Tatis acted like he was putting a pistol back in a holster.
“I wasn't a big fan,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of the attempt by Pasquantino to take third base. “We know he (Tatis) is super talented in every aspect of the game and throwing is certainly nothing he is lacking.”
Kansas City Royals designated hitter Salvador Perez, left, celebrates with teammate catcher Freddy Fermin after the Royals defeated the San Diego Padres 5-4 in a baseball game Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in San Diego. Credit: AP/Gregory Bull
The Padres scored two unearned runs in the fifth after consecutive errors by Kansas City’s MJ Melendez and Matt Duffy.
“Those things are going to happen. You just have to make pitches and pick them up,” Singer said of the errors. “That is just part of baseball. ... You have got to be able to overcome that.”
Kansas City reliever Ardolis Chapman pitched the seventh and threw a 104-mph fastball to Jake Cronenworth, which ties the fastest pitch of the 2023 season.
“That's amazing,” Perez said of Champan's feat.
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brady Singer works against a San Diego Padres batter during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in San Diego. Credit: AP/Gregory Bull
San Diego continues to struggle offensively and had two runners picked off first base in the game.
“It's just a little bit the way we've been playing,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said of his team's losing skid. “It's just not in sync all the way around. You don't expect base-running to cost you."
KC MAKES A MOVE
Royals RHP Max Castillo was optioned to Triple-A Omaha, and RHP Jackson Kowar was called up from Omaha. Kowar had a 7.84 ERA over 20-2/3 innings coming out of the Omaha bullpen this season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
A day after Padres 3B Manny Machado was hit by a pitch on the left hand, he was out of the starting lineup Tuesday. Machado is experiencing soreness and swelling, but X-rays came back negative. It seems likely the Padres will sit Machado as a precaution on Wednesday for the series finale ahead of an off-day Thursday.
UP NEXT
Padres RHP Yu Darvis (2-2, 3.16) gets the start to close the three-game series.
