Perez homers in both games of doubleheader, Royals sweep Cardinals with 6-4 and 8-5 victories

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Salvador Perez homered in both games and MJ Melendez added a solo shot in the nightcap to help the Kansas City Royals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-5 for a sweep of a day-night doubleheader Wednesday.

Kansas City took the opener 6-4. The Royals have won three in a row to improve to 51-43 — a season after winning just 56 games.

Michael Wacha (6-6) went five innings for the victory in the second game. He pitched seven seasons in St. Louis (2013-2019) and was the MVP of the 2013 NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This was his first start in St. Louis since leaving five years ago.

“There were definitely some emotions there,” Wacha said. “It was hard to treat it like just another start.”

Lars Nootbaar homered for St. Louis in the second game to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the second.

Closer James McArthur picked up his 17th save of the season and second of the day. McArthur had not pitched over the previous six days and was ready for the two-game challenge.

“It was just one of those things where you just throw and see how you’re feeling,” McArthur said.

Perez led off the sixth with his 16th of season to pushed the lead to 6-4.

“He makes us go,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said about Perez. “The middle of the order is big for us and no one is bigger than Salvy.”

Perez was 3 for 7 with two homers and four RBI in the doubleheader. It was the second time in his career that he went deep in both games of the doubleheader. The first came on May 21, 2017 against Minnesota.

Melendez began the third with his 10th of the season.

Wacha gave up four runs on seven hits over over five innings. He had allowed two earned runs or fewer in his previous eight starts.

Kyle Isbel added a solo homer leading off the ninth for the Royals, who were playing their first day-night doubleheader since July 15, 2023.

Isbel says the group proved a point with the road sweep.

“It shows what kind of team that we have,” Isbel said. “It was a long day and you just have to stay locked in at all times.”

Bobby Witt Jr. highlighted Kansas City’s a two-run outburst in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly.

St. Louis rookie Gordon Graceffo (0-1) allowed four hits and three runs over 3 1/3 innings in his first start and second big league appearance.

Nootbaar returned to the lineup on Monday after missing 36 games with an oblique strain.

“At the end of the day, the wins would make you feel a lot better,” Nootbaar said.

Garrett Hampson drove in two runs with a double in the opener, while Hunter Renfroe added two hits for the Royals. Nolan Arenado, Alec Burleson and Paul Goldschmidt homered for the Cardinals in the first game.

Alec Marsh (7-6) gave up three runs and three hits in six innings to earn the victory. He struck out eight and walked one. Marsh retired the last 11 batters he faced

McArthur got the save after giving up a one-out solo home run to Goldschmidt and a two-out single to Arenado in the ninth inning.

Andre Pallante (4-4) pitched 6 1/3 innings, his longest outing this season. He took the loss, allowing four runs and six hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

Perez, who will play in the All-Star Game next week, hit a 424-foot homer onto the grass in center field with one out in the sixth, giving the Royals a 4-3 lead.

EXTRA PLAYERS

Royals: Recalled left-hander Walter Pennington from Triple-A Omaha to serve as their 27th man for the doubleheader. The 26-year-old made his big-league debut last week in Colorado, retiring both batters he faced.

Cardinals: Recalled right-hander Gordon Graceffo from Triple-A Memphis to serve as their 27th man for the doubleheader.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: C Iván Herrera (lower back tightness) caught a full nine innings Tuesday at Triple-A Memphis. He also hit a home run.

UP NEXT

Royals: Will open a three-game series at Boston on Friday. Neither team has announced a starter.

Cardinals: RHP Sonny Gray (9-5, 3.30) will open a four-game series at home against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher James McArthur celebrates an 8-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the second game of a baseball doubleheader Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Wacha throws during the first inning in the second game of a baseball doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar (21) is congratulated by teammate Nolan Arenado (28) after hitting a solo home run during the second inning in the second game of a baseball doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the second inning in the second game of a baseball doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning in the second game of a baseball doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez watches his solo home run during the third inning in the second game of a baseball doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez arrives home after hitting a solo home run during the third inning in the second game of a baseball doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Gordon Graceffo (67) is removed by manager Oliver Marmol (37) during the fourth inning in the second game of a baseball doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado throws out Kansas City Royals' Freddy Fermin during the third inning in the second game of a baseball doubleheader Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' Kyle Isbel, right, scores past St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras during the fifth inning in the second game of a baseball doubleheader Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez, right, rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Matthew Liberatore during the sixth inning in the second game of a baseball doubleheader Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' Kyle Isbel, right, is congratulated by third base coach Vance Wilson after hitting a solo home run during the ninth inning in the second game of a baseball doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino (9) and Freddy Fermin celebrate an 8-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the second game of a baseball doubleheader Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Alec Burleson is unable to reach a ground-rule double by Kansas City Royals' Hunter Renfroe during the fifth inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals' Alec Burleson, right, is congratulated by teammate Pedro Pages (43) after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez (1) and Freddy Fermin (34) celebrate after scoring on a double by teammate Garrett Hampson during the fifth inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez hits a solo home run during the sixth inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez watches his solo home run during the sixth inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals relief pitcher James McArthur (66) and catcher Salvador Perez celebrate a 6-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the first game of a baseball doubleheader Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' Maikel Garcia scores during the eighth inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' Maikel Garcia (11) scores past St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pages during the eighth inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez, left, rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante, right, during the sixth inning in the first game of a baseball doubleheader Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Bangladesh's incoming interim leader Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday asked his people to stay calm and get ready to rebuild the nation after weeks of violence that left hundreds killed, following an uprising that forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down and flee to neighboring India.

Yunus was on his way home from Paris on Wednesday.

In his first statement since he was named as the head of an interim government, Yunus congratulated the students for “taking the lead in making our Second Victory Day possible.” He also appealed to them, members of political parties and other people to stay calm.

Referring to acts of violence that happened after Hasina’s resignation, Yunus said, “Violence is our enemy. Please don’t create more enemies. Be calm and get ready to build the country.”

Bangladesh’s military chief said Wednesday that the interim government headed by Yunus would be sworn in on Thursday night. Gen. Waker-Uz-Zaman said in a televised address that those responsible for violence since Hasina's resignation would be brought to justice.

The military chief — flanked by the chiefs of the navy and air force — said that he had spoken to Yunus and would receive him at the airport. Zaman said he was hopeful that Yunus would take the situation to a “beautiful democratic” process.

Speaking to reporters in Paris, Yunus said “I’m looking forward to going back home and seeing what’s happening there, and how we can organize ourselves to get out of the trouble that we are in.″

Asked when elections would be held, he put his hands up as if to indicate it was too early to say. ″I’ll go and talk to them. I’m just fresh in this whole area.″

The latest development came after a tribunal in Dhaka earlier on Wednesday acquitted Yunus in a labor law violation case, involving a telecommunication company he founded, in which he was convicted and sentenced to six months in jail. He was on bail in the case.

On Wednesday, ailing opposition leader and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia also urged all not to follow the path of destruction in Bangladesh as she addressed her supporters from a hospital bed at a rally in Dhaka. It was her first public speech since 2018, when she was convicted of corruption charges and jailed.

“No destruction, no anger, and no revenge, we need love and peace to rebuild our country,” she said using a video link.

The rally by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party came a day after Zia's release from house arrest. Her son and the acting head of the party, Tarique Rahman also addressed the crowd online from London, where he has been living in exile since 2008.

Rahman faces several criminal cases and was convicted of corruption and a grenade attack, charges dismissed by supporters as politically motivated.

Zia, who ruled the country from 2001 to 2006, was convicted on corruption charges in 2018 and sentenced to 17 years in prison. Her party said the charges were designed to keep her away from politics.

On Wednesday, the streets of Dhaka, the capital, were calm two days after violence gripped the country amid Hasina’s sudden departure. The students were seen cleaning streets and managing traffic in parts of Dhaka as police including traffic police disappeared amid violent attacks on police stations in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country.

Bangladesh's President Mohammed Shahabuddin, a symbolic figure who is acting as the chief executive now under the constitution, also asked the security officials on Wednesday to take stern action against troublemakers.

The country's newly appointed police chief Mainul Islam ordered police officers to return to work by Thursday evening to protect the people's lives and property. The Bangladesh Police Association went on strike after police stations and security officials were attacked across the country Monday.

The president dissolved Parliament on Tuesday, clearing the path for an interim administration that is expected to schedule new elections but it's not clear when those elections will take place.

Shahabuddin named Yunus as the head of an interim government, in consultation with the army and student leaders. He has been a longtime opponent of Hasina. An economist and banker, Yunus was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his work developing microcredit markets.

Violence in days surrounding Hasina’s resignation killed at least 109 people — including 14 police officers, and left hundreds of others injured, according to media reports, which could not be independently confirmed. Reports said more attacks took place across the country also on Tuesday. The looting of firearms was also reported in local media.

In the southwestern district of Satkhira, 596 prisoners and detainees escaped from a jail after an attack on the facility Monday evening, the United News of Bangladesh agency reported.

Homes of former ministers and MPs belonging to Hasina's party were looted, torched or vandalized. People were seen on social media taking valuables from the home of Hasina’s younger sister in Dhaka’s Gulshan area. Four separate neighbors told The Associated Press that the lootings took place at her home.

Local media also reported that many of the dead in two days of violence since her resignation included ruling party officials, mostly outside Dhaka. There were also reports of violence against Hindu leaders and other minorities. Those details could not be independently confirmed.

Opposition politicians have publicly called on people not to attack minority groups, while student leaders asked supporters to guard Hindu temples and other places of worship.

The unrest began in July with protests against a quota system for government jobs, which critics said favored people with connections to her party. But they soon grew into a broader challenge to Hasina’s 15-year rule, which was marked by human rights abuses, corruption, allegations of rigged elections and a brutal crackdown on her opponents. More than 300 people died in just a few weeks.

The quick move to choose Yunus came after Hasina’s resignation created a power vacuum and left the future unclear for Bangladesh, which has a history of military rule, messy politics and myriad crises.

The military wields significant influence in a country that has seen more than 20 coups or coup attempts since its independence from Pakistan in 1971. Military chief Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman said Monday he had taken temporary control while a new government is formed.

Many fear that Hasina’s departure could trigger even more instability in the densely populated nation of some 170 million people, which is already dealing with high unemployment, corruption and climate change.

Hasina, 76, was elected to a fourth consecutive term in January, an election boycotted by her main opponents. Thousands of opposition members were jailed before the vote, and the United States and the United Kingdom denounced the result as not credible.

——

Associated Press writers Andrea Rosa and Ahmed Hatem contributed to this report from Paris.

People gather in front of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headquarters during a protest rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus waves to the media at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

People gather in front of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headquarters during a rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus walks with his luggage at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus stands with his luggage at the check-in desk at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

People gather in front of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headquarters during a protest rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus checks in his luggage at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus gestures while speaking to the media upon arriving at Charles de Gaulle's airport in Roissy, north of Paris, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

People gather in front of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) headquarters during a protest rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)

FILE- Nobel Peace Prize winners Muhammad Yunus, right, and Grameen Bank representative Mosammat Taslima Begum display their medals and diplomas at City Hall in Oslo, Norway Sunday Dec. 10, 2006. (AP Photo/John McConnico, File)

FILE- Muhammad Yunus, an economist from Bangladesh who founded the Grameen Bank and won a Nobel Peace Prize, is seen at the end of a press conference in Paris Monday Feb. 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, File)

Volunteers manage road traffic in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajib Dhar)