Kansas City Royals: Top Moments of 2017 Season

6.) Salvador Perez Hits First Grand Slam

It took Perez a long time to hit his first career grand slam. But he couldn’t have picked a much more perfect moment.

On June 21, Perez clocked a full-count pitch over the bullpen in left field to suddenly turn a two-run deficit into a two-run lead. It was the second two-run lead of the game for the Kansas City Royals. This one, though, stuck, as Kelvin Herrera closed the ninth to secure the 6-4 victory.

Perez’s eighth-inning grand slam, which came with nobody out, happened on the ninth pitch of a tough battle with Red Sox left-hander Robby Scott. According to MLB.com, it was the first time in Boston’s 72 games that the team had lost after leading in the seventh inning or later. Scott and Matt Barnes had combined to walk the bases loaded prior to Perez’s 15th homer of the season.

The Royals had a 2-0 lead after scoring single runs in the second and third innings. However, the Red Sox quickly made up the difference with consecutive solo home runs to begin the top of the fourth. Another two runs in the fifth gave Boston the lead and set the stage for Perez’s dramatic grand slam.

Perhaps, the most memorable part of the moment came afterwards. Perez held his bat up for the cameras, showing that it came from Miguel Cabrera.