Royals score late, hold on for victory over Padres

Field Level Media|published: Sat 21st June, 02:37 2025

Jun 20, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Jonathan India (6) hits a three-run home run during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Salvador Perez's RBI single snapped a tie in the top of the eighth inning Friday night and the visiting Kansas City Royals stopped the San Diego Padres 6-5.

Perez's hit knocked in Maikel Garcia, who opened the inning with a single off Jason Adam (5-3) and reached scoring position via Vinnie Pasquantino's walk. Drew Waters tacked on insurance later in the inning with a two-out single that plated pinch runner John Rave.

Reliever Lucas Erceg (2-2) got the win despite allowing a game-tying two-run single by Gavin Sheets in the bottom of the seventh that capped San Diego's rally from a 4-0 deficit. Steven Cruz pitched a scoreless eighth and Carlos Estevez worked the ninth for his major-league-high 22nd save in 25 chances despite giving up a leadoff homer to Manny Machado, his 12th of the year.

Sheets' hit no-decisioned both starters. Kansas City's Michael Lorenzen went the first 5 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and two runs with three walks and four strikeouts. Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta lasted 4 2/3 innings, permitting six hits and four runs while walking two and whiffing three.

Coming off throwing seven innings of two-run ball on Sunday in an 8-2 win at Arizona, Pivetta ran into instant trouble. He hung a curve to Bobby Witt Jr. with one out in the first, and Witt blasted it into the seats in left for his 10th homer.

Pivetta was able to keep the Royals in check until the fifth. After walks to Freddy Fermin and Nick Loftin, Kyle Isbel bunted them over. Jonathan India cashed them in by cracking a three-run homer to left-center, his fourth.

Luis Arraez got San Diego on the board in its half of the fifth by stroking a two-out single to right-center that scored Trenton Brooks. Pinch hitter Jose Iglesias made it 4-2 in the sixth by poking a single to right that plated Xander Bogaerts.

Bogaerts collected hits in his first three at-bats, giving him eight straight dating back to Wednesday. The streak, which tied the franchise record, ended when he popped out in the ninth.

Garcia and India bagged three hits apiece for Kansas City.

--Field Level Media