Perez tags Giles, Royals beat Astros 4-2

Houston Astros relief pitcher Ken Giles (53) throws his glove in the dugout after giving up a two-run home run to Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez in the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 13, 2016, in Houston.
Houston Astros relief pitcher Ken Giles (53) throws his glove in the dugout after giving up a two-run home run to Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez in the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 13, 2016, in Houston.

HOUSTON (AP) — Salvador Perez tagged Houston reliever Ken Giles for a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning, lifting the Kansas City Royals over the Houston Astros 4-2 Wednesday night.

The World Series champion Royals have taken two of the three from the team they beat in the decisive Game 5 of the AL Division Series last October. This four-game set wraps up Thursday.

Giles (0-1) retired the first two batters in the eighth before walking Alex Gordon on a full count. Perez followed with a drive off the facade above the Crawford Boxes in left field for his first homer of the year.

Giles has given up three home runs in four games, and flung his glove in the dugout after this latest shot. He was acquired from Philadelphia in the offseason after giving up a total of three homers in 113 games over the past two years.

Jose Altuve had three hits for Houston, including a solo home run. He tied it at 2 with an RBI double in the seventh off Luke Hochevar (1-0).

Kelvin Herrera pitched the eighth and Joakim Soria pitched the ninth for his first save.

The Royals scored twice in the sixth following pitcher Scott Feldman's error. Feldman fielded Kendrys Morales' dribbler and overthrew first base, allowing Lorenzo Cain to score before Perez hit a sacrifice fly.

Royals starter Yordano Ventura gave up one run on four hits with six strikeouts in six innings. He walked three after walking six in his first outing.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Royals: OF Jarod Dyson (right oblique strain) went 1 for 4 in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha after playing a full nine innings on Tuesday. Dyson is 4 for 13 in four games. Royals manager Ned Yost said Dyson will be back soon but doesn't know exactly when.

Astros: Max Stassi, who is currently on the 15-day disabled list after undergoing surgery to remove the hook on the top of his left hamate bone, is taking a few days off from his rehab in Florida because of oblique soreness. It is not an injury but more of a delay in his day-to-day work for a couple of days, Houston manager A.J. Hinch said.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy (1-0) will start the finale of the four-game series Thursday in Houston. He will try to repeat his first outing of the season after he threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings against Minnesota Saturday.

Astros: RHP Doug Fister (1-0) will make his first home start for the Astros after earning a win in his first outing of the year, allowing three runs in five innings Saturday against Milwaukee.

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Salvador Perez hits two-run homer