Salvador Perez's homer lifts Royals over White Sox 4

CHICAGO (AP) — Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer in the eighth to put the Royals ahead, and Kansas City beat the struggling Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader.

Perez homered off Michael Kopech to left center for a 3-2 lead. Kansas City’s eight-time All-Star catcher started Wednesday after missing Monday with a groin injury.

“Clearly that home run was the huge point in the game,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “But regardless I thought (Perez looked really good prior to that too.”

Perez launched the first pitch he saw from the hard-throwing Kopech with two outs for his fifth home run.

“Not surprised, he earned that,” Quatraro said. “I mean, Kopech, that guy’s got an electric arm. To be able to turn a fastball around like that, that’s impressive.”

Hunter Renfroe added a solo shot in the ninth and Adam Frazier drove in the Royals’ first run with a single. Bobby Witt Jr. had two hits and was aboard for Perez’s homer after beating out an infield single.