Royals phinish off Phillies with 7-4 win

Salvy provides the lumber while Wacha is terrific.

Michael Wacha turned in another quality start and Salvador Perez drove in three runs as the Royals won the series opener against the Phillies 7-4 on Friday night.

Taijuan Walker has been disappointing since signing a four-year, $72 million deal with the Phillies last off-season. He continued his struggles tonight, beginning in the first inning. After Vinnie Pasquantino reached on an infield single, Salvador Perez doubled down the left-field line to score a speedy Pasquatch. Royals starter Michael Wacha found some trouble in the third, when Brandon Marsh singled to score J.T. Realmuto when Hunter Renfroe bobbled the ball. But he escaped further damage with a ground out double play by Trea Turner to keep it tied 1-1.

The Royals enjoyed some hard contact in the bottom of the inning off of Walker. Michael Massey led off with a single, and Bobby Witt Jr. hit a hard ground out to shortstop that advanced Massey to second. After a Pasquantino single, Salvador Perez drilled a 434-foot three-run home run, his 23rd of the year. Maybe he needs to join neighborhood wiffle ball games before every series?

After an MJ Melendez single, Hunter Renfroe followed up with a two-run home run, his 12th of the year to make it 6-1. Walker exited after just three innings and six runs allowed.

Meanwhile, Wacha was pretty nails. He gave up another run in the fourth after Bryce Harper doubled and advanced to third and home on productive outs. Wacha would leave after six innings allowing just six hits and two runs with no walks. Since the All-Star break, he has a 2.27 ERA with just 11 walks in seven starts and the Royals have gone 6-1 in those games.

Paul DeJong added an RBI double in the fifth to make it 7-2 Royals. Kris Bubic got in a jam and gave up a pair of runs in the eighth. But Lucas Erceg slammed the door shut with a scoreless ninth inning for his seventh save.

The Royals improve to 72-56 and move into second place, just one game back of Cleveland, who lost tonight. They will take on the Phillies again tomorrow evening at 6:10 with Brady Singer expected to face lefty Ranger Suárez.