Salvador Perez sets another franchise-best mark in Royals' 4-2 loss to Blue Jays

Jaylon Thompson, The Kansas City Star on Aug 2, 2025

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Kansas City Royals star Salvador Perez tangled with an old adversary Saturday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays.

As he stepped into the batter’s box, Perez stared into the eyes of Blue Jays ace Max Scherzer.

And the potential future Hall of Famers danced again.

Perez went 2 for 3 against Scherzer. He singled in the fourth inning before hitting his 20th home run in the sixth. It was a record-breaking shot as he surpassed Royals legend George Brett with his ninth campaign of 20 or more home runs.

It wasn’t the first time Perez homered off Scherzer. He had done so twice before, including his first career home run nearly 14 years ago (Aug. 29, 2011).

However, this encounter felt different. Both Perez and Scherzer are respected veterans and ambassadors for the league. Perez is closing in on 300 career home runs — he is sitting at 293 homers — and is red-hot at the plate.

“We need him and other guys to do it too,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said in his postgame news conference, via FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City. “You provide power in the middle of the lineup, and that’s a big threat at any time.”

Perez has 11 home runs in his last 21 games. If he reaches 300 career homers, he will become the eighth primary catcher to achieve the milestone.

Meanwhile, Scherzer is closing in on 3,500 strikeouts. He is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and has two World Series titles.

On Saturday, the Royals fell, 4-2, to the Blue Jays at the Roger Centre in Toronto, Ontario. KC rookie Noah Cameron allowed four earned runs in 6 1/3 innings in the loss.

“I thought we just continued to attack,” Cameron told reporters in Toronto via FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City. “I thought kind of after that (third) inning, we bear down and started to get into some good counts. Started to get ahead of hitters, kind of struggled doing that in the beginning and first three innings. Just continued to attack the zone and get some guys out early.”

The Blue Jays took an early three-run lead in the third inning. Davis Schneider hit a two-run single and Bo Bichette added an RBI single in the frame.

From there, Scherzer kept the Royals at a distance. He allowed one run — the Perez homer — across six innings. He registered five strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter.

The Royals had a few opportunities. However, the offense failed to drive in outfielder Kyle Isbel in the third and fifth innings. Isbel doubled in both plate appearances but was left standing on third base. KC finished 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position.

Now, the Royals (55-56) will look to win the series on Sunday afternoon. KC veteran Seth Lugo will be on the mound for the series finale.

Royals dealt injury blow

The injuries continue to mount for the Royals. On Saturday, Royals second baseman Jonathan India and relief pitcher Steven Cruz were removed from the game.

India was hit by a pitch on his left wrist and forearm in the third inning. He initially stayed in the game but was replaced in the fifth. Nick Loftin pinch hit for him and remained in the game for the rest of the afternoon.

“It’s just a contusion,” Quatraro said. “We got an X-ray and nothing’s broken. Just sore and he has been battling that wrist anyway and he got hit there again.”

Cruz left with the Royals training staff in the seventh inning. Perez alerted the dugout after noticing something was bothering Cruz as he pitched to Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in relief.

After a brief evaluation, Cruz left the game and was replaced by right-handed veteran reliever Taylor Clarke. He induced a double play to retire Guerrero and end the inning.

The Royals provided an update after the game. Cruz left with right shoulder discomfort and will get further treatment.

“He felt a little pinching in his shoulder,” Quatraro said. “Just kind of some normal throwing discomfort. We will have to get him evaluated and see what we’ve got.”

What’s next?

Lugo will look to help the Royals secure a pivotal series win on Sunday afternoon against the Blue Jays. Toronto will counter with right-hander Chris Bassitt (11-5, 4.24 ERA).