Salvador Perez hits a 2-run homer, Alec Marsh strikes out 11 and Royals beat Pirates 8-3

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Salvador Perez and Kyle Isbel hit home runs and drove in two runs each, Alec Marsh struck out 11 in 5 1/3 innings, and the Kansas City Royals snapped Pittsburgh’s four-game winning streak with an 8-3 victory over the Pirates on Friday night.

Perez’s two-run shot to the bullpens in left-center capped a six-run second inning when the Royals broke a scoreless tie. Isbel’s solo homer in the fourth pushed the lead to 7-0. Adam Frazier added a solo home run in the eighth.

“We just got the momentum rolling early and it was fun to watch,” Isbel said.

The 34-year-old Perez, a nine-time All-Star catcher, has 27 home runs and 103 RBIs this season.

“He’s incredible,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “That’s why he’s in the discussion to be a Hall of Famer. “You don’t see players produce the way he does at that position on a year-in and year-out basis. He’s clearly a leader in the community and on this team with the way he goes about his business.”

Marsh (8-8) allowed only one run and the 11 strikeouts matched a career high. It was the second-year right-hander’s first win since July 10.

The Royals had lost two of three games to the Yankees earlier in the week in New York but had a 1 1/2-game lead over Minnesota for the second American League wild card entering the game. With Cleveland’s loss on Friday, the second-place Royals pulled within three games of the Guardians in the AL Central.

The Royals are in contention a year after going 56-106.

“It’s amazing,’ Marsh said of pitching in a pennant race. “There is no other team I’d rather do it with. This team is amazing. Everyone comes here and treats it just like another game. No one is putting any pressure on anyone. We know it’s September and these games mean a little more than earlier in the season but we’re just having fun.”

The Pirates fell to 14-23 since Aug. 4, when their record was 56-54 and they were 2 1/2 games out of the National League’s third wild card.

“Good breaking ball,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of Marsh. “Did a really nice job with it, kept us off balance, was able to use it in-zone and then use it as a chase.”

Luis Ortiz (6-6) was tagged for seven runs — four earned — on five hits in four innings. His throwing error on Frazier’s chopper helped set up the Royals’ big second-inning.

Yuli Gurriel hit an RBI single, and Isbel drove in a run with a double before Tommy Pham’s two-run single made it 4-0. After Bobby Witt Jr. struck out, Perez homered.

Witt went 1 for 5, dropping his major league leading batting average to .332.

The Pirates scored in the sixth when Oneil Cruz doubled and scored on Joey Bart’s single. Bryan Reynolds hit a sacrifice fly and Cruz added an RBI single in the ninth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Michael Lorenzen (strained left hamstring) allowed one run in 3 1/3 innings on Friday for Triple-A Omaha in his second minor league outing since going on the injured list on Aug. 28. Lorenzen will likely be activated next week. … RHP Hunter Harvey (tightness in mid-back) has resumed throwing but there is no timetable for his return.

Pirates: LHP Marco Gonzales (strained left forearm) had left flexor tendon repair surgery, and an internal brace placed in his left ulnar collateral ligament. Eligible for free agency after the World Series, Gonzales is expected to miss most of next season. … 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes (lower back inflammation) could begin playing catch next week but the Pirates are unsure if he will return this season.

UP NEXT

Royals RHP Michael Wacha (12-7, 3.34 ERA) faces RHP Mitch Keller (11-9, 3.85) on Saturday. Wacha is 11-3 with a 2.62 ERA in his last 19 starts since May 9. Keller has lost four of his last five decisions.

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

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton, left, takes a toss from Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the on-deck circle while standing in the dugout with bench coach Don Kelly, right, during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Pittsburgh, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. Shelton tossed the ball to a nearby fan. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez (13) celebrates with Tommy Pham as he heads to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Luis L. Ortiz during the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. The Royals won 8-3. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Royals' Kyle Isbelk, top, rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Luis L. Ortiz (48) during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton, left, and bench coach Don Kelly, center, stand in the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Pittsburgh, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Royals' Kyle Isbel, top, celebrates with Bobby Witt Jr. as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Luis L. Ortiz during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz scores on a single by Joey Bart off Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Alec Marsh during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Royals' Adam Frazier (26) celebrates with Yuli Gurriel as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Kyle Nicolas during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Luis L. Ortiz during the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez (13) follows through on a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Luis L. Ortiz during the second inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese company Gold Apollo said Wednesday that it authorized its brand on the pagers that exploded in Lebanon and Syria but that another company based in Budapest manufactured them.

The pagers were manufactured by BAC Consulting KFT, based in Hungary’s capital, according to a statement released Wednesday by Gold Apollo.

Gold Apollo said the AR-924 pagers used by the Hezbollah militant group were produced and sold by a company called BAC that was authorized to use Gold Apollo’s trademark in some regions.

“According to the cooperation agreement, we authorize BAC to use our brand trademark for product sales in designated regions, but the design and manufacturing of the products are solely the responsibility of BAC,” the statement read.

Experts believe explosive material was put into the pagers prior to their delivery and use in a sophisticated supply chain infiltration.

Gold Apollo chair Hsu Ching-kuang told journalists Wednesday that his company has had an authorization agreement with BAC for the past three years.

“This company has cooperated with us and represents many of our products,” Hsu said. “They also wanted to make pagers and asked me if they could use our company’s brand name.” He added the products involved in the explosion were designed by BAC.

Hsu and other Gold Apollo representatives did not disclose more details about BAC and did not show any proof of the organizations’ agreement. When pressed for information on BAC, Hsu became quiet and left.

A police officer inspects a car in which a hand-held pager exploded, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

People gather outside the American University hospital after the arrival of several men who were wounded by exploded handheld pagers, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Bassam Masri)

Lebanese soldiers stand guard at a street that leads to the American University hospital where they bring wounded people whose handheld pager exploded, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)