Perez drives in 2 as the Royals beat the Phillies 5-2 to end a 4-game losing streak

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez drove in two runs, Luinder Avile went five innings, and the Kansas City Royals snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

Avila (4-3) held Philadelphia to one run in five innings. He had four strikeouts and one walk. Alex Lange pitched the ninth for this eighth save.

The Royals scored a pair of runs in the first inning when Lane Thomas knocked a two-out double to right-center field. Michael Massey followed with an RBI single.

Philadelphia’s Bryson Stott extended his on-base streak to 12 games with a triple in the fifth inning and scored on a sacrifice fly from Gabriel Rincones Jr.

Avila left after the next out.

Kansas City's Isaac Collins led off the fifth with a double after successfully challenging a third-strike call for the second time in the game. He scored on a sacrifice fly to center from Jac Caglianone.

Stott struck again in the seventh with a leadoff single. He advanced on a fielder’s choice and throwing error, then scored on another force out.

Phillies starter Aaron Nola (3-6) struck out seven across seven innings, including the last three batters he faced.

Perez sealed the game for the Royals with a two-run double in the eighth inning that scored Bobby Witt Jr. and Thomas.

With a walk in the sixth, Kyle Schwarber has reached base in 11 consecutive games.

Before the game, the Royals inducted former player, coach and manager John Wathan into the organization’s Hall of Fame. He played 10 seasons in the majors and won the 1985 World Series with Kansas City.

Phillies LHP Christopher Sánchez (10-3, 2.00 ERA) faces Royals LHP Noah Cameron (4-6, 4.95).

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

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryson Stott (5) beats the tag at third by Kansas City Royals third baseman Josh Rojas after hitting a triple during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Philadelphia Phillies' Gabriel Rincones Jr. hits a sacrifice fly to score a run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals left fielder Isaac Collins catches a fly ball for the out on Philadelphia Phillies' Garrett Stubbs during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Lane Thomas slides home to score on a two-run double hit by Salvador Perez during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Luinder Avila throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Chase Briscoe held off Christopher Bell on Sunday night in NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland Speedway, racing to his first Cup Series victory of the season.

Briscoe was followed closely by Bell in the final laps on the 1.5-mile oval about 50 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. But Bell was unable to run down his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate.

The 31-year-old Briscoe, an Indiana native, celebrated his sixth career win with a burnout before standing in the window of his car and waving to the sellout crowd.

It was Bell’s fourth runner-up finish this season. He raced with a splint on his arm as he continues his recovery after breaking his left wrist in a crash at Michigan on June 7.

Denny Hamlin, who started on the pole, was third. William Byron, who won the opening two stages, and Alex Bowman rounded out the top five.

NASCAR ran 19 Cup races in Joliet before pulling out after the 2019 season. It tried to build interest in the event in a crowded sports market, but the race struggled with attendance.

After racing on a street course in downtown Chicago each of the previous three years, NASCAR decided to go back to Chicagoland — eager to see how the Next Gen cars would do on the rough and bumpy asphalt at the facility. Rain on Friday and Saturday caused some parking issues, but the racing was compelling.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Christopher Bell (20) drives during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chase Briscoe (19) drives to the track after making a pit stop during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)