Salvador Perez hit his 20th home run as the Royals win five straight games

|| AP Agency

*** The Creole mask has maintained a high average in his last seven games played***

Venezuelan Salvador Perez had three hits, including a home run, and the Kansas City Royals won their fifth straight game by crushing Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers 9-2 yesterday.

Cole Ragans (8-7) allowed just two runs and two hits to the Tigers in 5 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out six.

Skubal (12-4) allowed a season-high five runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. Skubal, who struck out eight, is 2-9 against the Royals with a 5.05 ERA in 14 games, 12 as a starter.

The Royals got Skubal out with a six-run seventh, including nine straight hits, two stolen bases and a wild pitch.

Kansas City extended its lead in the seventh. Dairon Blanco and Maikel Garcia singled with one out to end Skubal’s night. Bobby Witt Jr. welcomed Shelby Miller with a single to the infield to load the bases.

Vinnie Pasquantino hit a two-run single to make it 5-2, followed by a double steal and a run on a wild pitch. Perez’s third hit came on an RBI double.

Hunter Renfroe and Venezuelan Freddy Fermin singled to make it 8-2.

For the Royals, Venezuelans Maikel Garcia went 1-for-5 with one run scored, Salvador Perez went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs, Freddy Fermin went 2-for-3 with one RBI. Cuban Dairon Blanco went 1-for-4 with one run scored.

For the Tigers, Cuban Andy Ibáñez was 0-for-4. Dominican Wenceel Pérez was 0-for-3. Colombian Gio Urshela was 0-for-3. Puerto Rican Javier Báez was 0-for-3.

WILLIAM CONTRERAS HITS AN IMPRESSIVE HOME RUN

William Contreras appeared last night at the start of the National League series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Washington Nationals. The All-Star catcher sent the ball flying all over Center Field at Nationals Park. This is the 12th homer of the season for the Venezuelan.