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Perez, Royals power past Yankees

Jun 8, 2014 - 4:13 AM Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Salvador Perez hit a go-ahead three-run homer and finished a triple shy of the cycle, leading the Kansas City Royals to an 8-4 win over the New York Yankees on Saturday.

Eric Hosmer added a solo homer and Lorenzo Cain had three hits, an RBI and two runs scored for the Royals, who bounced back from a 4-2 loss in the four-game series opener on Friday to win for the fourth time in their last six.

"I've said all along that I think we've got home run power and that it will manifest itself in time," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "I think it's starting to do that now."

Left-hander Danny Duffy went 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks. Aaron Crow (3-1) got four straight outs in relief to pick up the win.

David Phelps (1-4) took the loss for New York, allowing seven runs on 10 hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings.

The Royals broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning to take a 7-3 lead. Perez's three-run blast, his sixth homer of the season, was the big blow and came after Billy Butler and Alex Gordon drew consecutive walks to start the frame.

After Cain tripled, Phelps recorded two straight outs before giving up an RBI single to Nori Aoki, bringing on reliever Matt Daley to get the final out.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Phelps lost his rhythm in the sixth.

"The two walks really hurt him and then the pitch to Perez is down and in, it's not even a strike and he hits it out of the ballpark," Girardi said.

Hosmer homered against Daley leading off the seventh inning to make it 8-3.

The Yankees scored their last run off Michael Mariot in the ninth.

The Royals sent eight batters to the plate against Phelps and took a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Butler and Gordon opened the inning with consecutive doubles to score the first run, Perez and Cain followed with back-to-back singles to plate the second and Alcides Escobar knocked in the third with a hit.

The Yankees had just four baserunners in the first five innings but chased Duffy out of the game with a three-run sixth. Carlos Beltran doubled to drive in Derek Jeter, who had reached on a one-out single, and two runs scored on Yangervis Solarte's base hit to make it 3-3.

Game Notes

Hosmer hit his second home run of the season ... The Royals batted 7-for-15 (.467) with runners in scoring position while the Yankees went 3-for-8.