Salvy jolts KC's lineup with homer in return

NEW YORK -- Salvador Perez had been out of the Royals’ lineup for more than a month, missing 32 games due to a torn ligament in his left thumb. But the absence of his bat was especially pronounced over the previous three games, as Kansas City was shut out twice against the Angels and then again in Thursday's series opener against the Yankees.

But when the veteran catcher was reinstated off the injured list before Friday’s contest, those woes started to fall away in a hurry.

Up against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, who had held the Royals scoreless through the first four innings, Perez smashed a Statcast-projected 424-foot blast to straightaway center field, capping a five-run fifth with a go-ahead three-run homer.

While that dinger looked like it might carry Kansas City on the night, New York unleashed an eight-run ambush in the eighth against relievers Scott Barlow and Jackson Kowar, sending the Royals to an 11-5 loss, their fourth in a row. It was their Major League-leading 14th game of the season in which they have allowed 10 or more runs.

“He’s the heart and soul of our club,” manager Mike Matheny said of Perez. “We’re talking about a guy who controls a clubhouse. We need that from some of your veteran players. Guy who goes about his business how you want to be emulated from everybody. Also, the fact that he’s really good."

The long ball was Perez’s 12th home run of the season, one in which he has played only 58 of his club’s 100 games. It was also his 12th career homer vs. the Yankees, which is his most against any opponent outside the American League Central.

Perez underwent surgery on June 24 to repair the UCL in his left thumb after he aggravated the injury that he first dealt with -- and went on the IL for -- in May. While Perez's timeline was originally thought to be eight weeks, Matheny said that the surgeon who performed the procedure told the club that if all went according to plan, Friday was the earliest that the 32-year-old could return to action. Like clockwork, Perez slotted into the No. 3 spot in the order as the designated hitter against New York.

“We’re really happy to have him back and are just fortunate that the process was the process and the procedure went as well as it did,” Matheny said. “Salvy stayed on course, and we’re impressed he can be back as quick as he’s been.”

Perez went on a three-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha, going 4-for-8 with a double and a walk. He also caught five innings on Wednesday and seemed close to a comeback. Though the Royals have not determined when Perez will be behind the dish for them, if it were up to him, that would come at the earliest possible opportunity as well.

“I want to catch tomorrow, so we’re going to see,” Perez said. “I don’t know what the doctor put on my finger, but I don’t feel anything. I felt good.”

Perez felt just as comfortable swinging a bat Friday, especially on that home run off Cole. Entering the game, Perez was 0-for-9 in his career against the right-hander. In his first-inning at-bat, he lined out on the first pitch, an 83 mph knucklecurve. And his next time up in the fourth, Cole struck Perez out swinging on a 90 mph slider away.

But when Perez connected on a near-100 mph fastball at the top of the zone, he knew it was gone.

“Yeah, I hit it pretty good,” Perez said. “Coming [into] today, I never got a hit against him. … 1-for-12 is not bad. It’s a great situation, and one of the best pitchers in the league, you know? I’m super aggressive, I like to swing and I think it’s a good pitch, too.

“One hundred is not a problem,” he added jokingly.

Seeing Perez deposit that ball with ease -- showing no signs of rust and full power in his swing -- gave the Royals confidence that they have their big bat back. From here on out, they’re hopeful that Perez will be operating at all systems go.

"I think it’s behind him,” Matheny said. “We’ve been watching him hit here for about a week, and it’s just different than most people can do. The way the ball comes off his bat, you can tell he’s feeling strong. He’s feeling confident. He wanted to do something big, and he did it.”