Wenceel Pérez hits a 2-run drive for 1st big league homer as the Tigers beat the Royals 4-1

DETROIT (AP) — Wenceel Pérez hit a two-run drive for his first major league homer, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 4-1 on Sunday.

“He hit one to the track last night,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “I guess he did a couple extra pushups this morning.”

Jake Rogers also homered for the Tigers, who have won five of seven. It was Detroit's 10th come-from-behind win of the season.

The Royals have lost two in a row after a four-game winning streak.

“I don't think we drove a ball after the first inning until maybe the seventh,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “We couldn't square them up.”

Detroit left-hander Tarik Skubal (4-0) pitched seven innings of one-run ball.

“He gave up a seeing-eye double and a two-strike base hit in the first, but he got another gear after that,” Hinch said. “That's what you expect from a guy who is going to anchor your rotation.”

Skubal struck out six while improving to 2-7 with a 4.65 ERA in 12 career games against the Royals.

“We knew coming in it was going to be a challenge. He's one of the best pitchers in the league,” Quatraro said. “Upper-90s velocity, location, plus changeup, curveball — you name it.”

Jason Foley pitched the ninth for his ninth save.

Royals right-hander Michael Wacha (1-3) permitted four runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Kansas City took a 1-0 lead on Bobby Witt Jr.'s RBI single in the first, but Pérez put Detroit in front with a drive to right in the bottom half.

“As soon as I hit it, I knew it was gone,” said Pérez, who is hitting .286 since making his major league debut on April 8. “And when we give (Skubal) a lead, the game is done. We know he's going to do the job.”

The Tigers made it 3-1 in the second when Rogers singled, took third on Parker Meadows' double and scored on Riley Greene's sacrifice fly.

Rogers added his second homer of the season in the sixth, and Skubal stranded runners on first and third in the seventh.

“We were probably a little fastball heavy early in the game, but then he was really dominant with the changeup,” said Rogers, who has caught all of Skubal's starts this season.

Kansas City's Salvador Perez walked in the ninth, extending his on-base streak to 18 games.

UP NEXT

Royals: Start a three-game series Monday in Toronto. Kansas City is expected to call up RHP Jonathan Bowlan (2024 debut) from Triple-A Omaha to face RHP Yariel Rodriguez (0-1, 3.86 ERA).

Tigers: Start a three-game series Monday against St. Louis. RHP Kenta Maeda (0-1, 5.96 ERA) is scheduled to start against Cardinals LHP Steven Matz (1-2, 5.55 ERA).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Detroit Tigers' Zach McKinstry reacts after getting picked off first base in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers' Jake Rogers, right, is congratulated by third base coach Joey Cora after hitting a home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws to a Detroit Tigers batter in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro, left, takes the ball away from starting pitcher Michael Wacha (52) after Wacha gave up a home run to Detroit Tigers' Jake Rogers in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal throws to a Kansas City Royals batter in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Pérez reacts after hitting a two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Pérez, right, is hugged by Mark Canha, left, after hitting a two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 28, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants signed veteran catcher Curt Casali to a one-year contract on Wednesday amid a growing number of injuries on their roster.

Starting catcher Patrick Bailey went back on the seven-day concussion injured list Tuesday after being activated three days earlier, and backup Tom Murphy was transferred to the 60-day IL on Wednesday with a sprained left knee.

Giants catcher Jakson Reetz was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for Casali on the active roster.

The 35-year-old Casali played for San Francisco from 2021-22 before getting traded to the Seattle Mariners.

“A lot of the things that you want from that position, he does very well,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “And I know our guys, especially the ones who have been around him before, are excited about him being here.”

Casali spent last season with the Cincinnati Reds, batting .175 in 40 games.

He signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs in March and hit .362 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in 23 games with Triple-A Iowa.

In 10 major league seasons with the Rays, Reds, Giants and Mariners, Casali has a .220 batting average with 47 homers and 154 RBIs.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

San Francisco Giants' Mike Yastrzemski, middle, celebrates after hitting a two-run home run that also scored Curt Casali (18), next to Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, left, during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

FILE - Cincinnati Reds catcher Curt Casali, left, and pitcher Nick Lodolo, right, walk to the dugout before the team's baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., April 30, 2023. The San Francisco Giants signed Casali to a one-year contract Wednesday, May 15, 2024, amid a growing number of injuries on their roster. Starting catcher Patrick Bailey went back on the seven-day concussion injured list Tuesday after being activated three days earlier, and backup Tom Murphy was transferred to the 60-day IL on Wednesday with a sprained left knee. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)