Spanish
SEATTLE. — With the captain's armband embroidered on his uniform and leadership in his soul, Salvador Pérez once again showed why he is the heart of the Kansas City Royals. The veteran Venezuelan catcher drove his team to an important 6-3 victory over the Mariners, on a historic night from the plate at T-Mobile Park.
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Pérez connected three unstoppable hits, including two doubles and a run-scoring single, driving in three runs at key moments in the game. His first double, in the fifth inning, was especially significant: it drove in two runs that extended the Royals' lead and, at the same time, catapulted him to sixth place on the all-time hits list in franchise history, surpassing Alex Gordon with his hit number 1,644. He didn't stop there. In the seventh inning, Pérez hit another double, the 600th extra-base hit of his career, joining an elite list in Kansas City that includes legends like George Brett (1,119), Hal McRae (681), Frank White (625), and Amos Otis (623). He closed out his brilliant night with a run-scoring single in the ninth inning for his 1,646th hit, getting even closer to the big names in Royals history. "It's an honor to be on this list with such important players for this organization," Pérez said after the game. "But more than the numbers, I'm happy because we helped the team achieve a victory that we needed very much." Kansas City, looking to stay in the fight for the Wild Card spots in the American League, showed a more dynamic offense after a lackluster first game of the series. They scored from the first inning with a double by Jonathan India and a single by Maikel García, added two more in the second and took definitive control in the fifth with Pérez's hit. The pitching staff also did its part. Although starter Michael Lorenzen allowed three runs in less than five innings, the bullpen responded effectively: John Schreiber, Ángel Zerpa, Lucas Erceg, Steven Cruz, and Carlos Estévez combined to shut out the Mariners the rest of the way. Victory is not only key in the standings, but also in the spirits of a team that sees in its captain, Salvador Pérez, the emotional and sporting guide to continue dreaming big in 2025.
