First home run Salvador Pérez leads the Royals to victory over the Giants

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Vinny Pascuantino hit his first home series of the season leading off the fourth, Salvador Perez hit the eighth and the Kansas City Royals hit the San Francisco Giants’ season-opener at home, winning 3-1 Friday.

Perez’s home run was his first of 2023 and extended the Royals’ lead.

Nikki Lopez added an RBI single for the Royals, who pitched enough support to right-hander Brad Keeler (1-1) for their second victory to date in a season opener.

Kansas City has lost three straight and went 1-6 at home for only the second time to start a season.

Paul Hoover, bench coach, leads the Royals. Driver Matt Quattraro took a leave of absence after testing positive for COVID-19.

Blake Sabol hit an RBI single for San Francisco on what started as a rainy day at Oracle Park. A tarp was placed on the field, but it was removed at 10 am and both teams were able to practice before the game.

Left-handed Alex Cobb (0-1) hit six in seven close innings, but didn’t get enough support from a club that led the majors with 15 homers to start the day.

For the Royals, Venezuelan Perez is 4-1 with one record and one assist. For the Giants, Dominican Jonathan Villar 3-0. Venezuelan Thero Estrada 3-1, Wilmer Flores 1-0. Puerto Rico Roberto Perez 2-0.