Salvador Perez got the pitcher and the pitch he wanted in the seventh inning Tuesday night, and he hit a two-run home run that carried the Kansas City Royals to a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.
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The lefty also came close to a no-hitter, making it through seven frames before Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings led off the eighth inning with a double.
Kendrys Morales homered in the seventh to put the Royals on the scoreboard against Rays starter Chris Archer.
Top 8, Royals lead 3-0: Alcides Escobar singles into left, scoring Paulo Orlando (single). They added two more runs on three hits in the eighth.
Duffy would leave the game after eight innings while Kelvin Herrera go the save by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.
The 27-year-old, who had not pitched a complete game in 94 big league starts coming in, threw 84 pitches through six innings.
“My fastball was jumping out of my hand, my changeup felt really good and my changeup was there”, he said. Duffy hit.295 with 12 home runs and 77 RBIs last season for the Giants, but had been struggling this season -.253, four home runs, 21 RBIs – before being injured. He also became the first Giants rookie to ever win the Willie Mac Award, which is given to the player who best exemplifies the inspiration, character and leadership demonstrated by Hall of Famer Willie McCovey during his playing days in San Francisco. The Rays plan to move Brad Miller to first base or the outfield, where his 17 home runs can still help the team but his defensive shortcomings at short won’t be a problem. Acquired in advance of Monday afternoon’s deadline, Matt Moore will step in for Peavy in the Giants’ rotation, which has been one of baseball’s best this season. “Wish we didn’t have to do that but we’ve got to do what’s right for the organization today and moving forward”. “Whatever happens is going to happen, and we need to focus every day, and not worry about what happened yesterday”.
Royals: RHP Wade Davis rejoined the team to rehab his flexor strain.
That will look to change tonight when Yordano Ventura gets the ball for the Royals.
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Rays starter Matt Andriese pitched four innings in his first start since June 25, giving up one run on three hits while striking out three.
