Perez's Homer Lifts Royals to Doubleheader Split

Kansas City rallies with six-run sixth inning to defeat Milwaukee 8-2

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:19am

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Salvador Perez's solo home run sparked a six-run sixth inning as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 8-2 to earn a split in their Saturday night doubleheader. The Royals' bullpen tossed 10 scoreless innings across the two games, striking out 13 batters.

Why it matters

The Royals' victory helps them stay competitive in the AL Central division race, while the Brewers missed an opportunity to gain ground in the NL Central. The strong relief pitching performances on both sides also highlight the importance of bullpen depth in today's game.

The details

After Perez's second home run of the season broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning, the Royals piled on with three consecutive two-out singles to chase Brewers starter Brandon Sproat. Kansas City would go on to score six runs in the frame to take an 8-2 lead. Royals starter Seth Lugo went five innings, allowing two runs, while Nick Mears earned the win in relief. Eli Morgan recorded his second career save with three scoreless frames.

  • The doubleheader took place on Saturday, April 5, 2026.
  • The Royals' six-run sixth inning occurred in the second game of the doubleheader.

The players

Salvador Perez

The Royals' All-Star catcher hit a solo home run to spark Kansas City's six-run sixth inning.

Seth Lugo

The Royals' starting pitcher went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Nick Mears

The Royals' relief pitcher earned the win after pitching a hitless sixth inning.

Eli Morgan

The Royals' relief pitcher recorded his second career save with three scoreless innings, striking out five.

Brandon Sproat

The Brewers' starting pitcher was chased in the sixth inning after allowing four runs on four hits and three walks over 3.2 innings.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to bounce back after that first game, and the guys really stepped up in the sixth inning to give us the lead. Our bullpen has been a strength all season, and they came through again tonight.”

— Mike Matheny, Royals Manager

What’s next

The Royals and Brewers will wrap up their series on Sunday, with Kris Bubic taking the mound for Kansas City against Kyle Harrison of Milwaukee.

The takeaway

The Royals' ability to rally with a big sixth inning and their bullpen's dominance throughout the doubleheader showcase the team's depth and resilience as they continue to fight for a playoff spot in the competitive AL Central.