KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Andrew Benintendi hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 10-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.
Salvador Perez had two homers and three RBIs to help the Royals sweep the two-game series. Brady Singer (3-4) allowed five runs — four earned — and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Wil Crowe (0-4) took the loss. He gave up eight runs and eight hits in four-plus innings.
“What a show,” Royals manager Mike Matheny said after his team’s offensive outburst. “The top-of-the-order hitters gave the opportunities for Beni and what a sweet swing that was.
“It was great to see a lot of different guys make things happen.”
Adam Frazier, who led the National League with 40 hits in May, doubled twice for Pittsburgh.
Benintendi drove in Kansas City’s first run with a single in the first inning.
The Pirates scored three times in the third. Singer loaded the bases with no outs on an infield single, a walk and a hit batter. An RBI single by Bryan Reynolds and sacrifice flies by Gregory Polanco and Ben Gamel knocked in the next two runs.
Kevin Newman singled and raced home when Michael Perez sent one to the wall in right-center for a double to give the Pirates a 4-1 lead in the fourth.
Singer was not thrilled with his outing, but he wasn’t worried about his club’s ability to come back.
“I struggled with a little bit of my control there,” he said. “It wasn’t terrible, but up in the zone a lot. But the whole lineup was incredible. It was really good to see those guys do that.”
Perez drew the Royals to 4-3 with his 11th home run in the bottom half. Carlos Santana led off with a single. With one out, Perez launched a two-run drive into the Pirates’ bullpen in left.
Benintendi’s grand slam capped a five-run fifth. Crowe gave up a leadoff triple to Michael A. Taylor, then walked Nicky Lopez. Whit Merrifield singled in Taylor before Crowe walked Santana to load the bases. Benintendi sent his second career slam into the Royals’ bullpen.
“I was just looking for a pitch to drive to the outfield,” Benintendi said.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton was second-guessing the decision to leave Crowe in to face Benintendi.
