Salvador Perez homered and drove in three as the Kansas City Royals beat the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

Perez put Kansas City on the scoreboard with a two-out, first-inning double, his 27th go-ahead RBI, matching New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge for the majors’ lead.

In the third inning, Perez hit his 23rd home run — a 434-foot, two-run blast to left-center — to reach 900 career RBIs. Two batters later, Hunter Renfroe followed with his 12th homer, a two-run shot to left, for a 6-1 lead. Renfroe eclipsed 500 career RBIs with the hit.

In the five-run third, the Royals sent up nine batters against Taijuan Walker (3-5), who allowed six runs on eight hits and a walk with two strikeouts in three innings. He is winless in 10 starts since May 11.

Michael Wacha (11-6) won his third straight start and improved to 7-0 in his past 10 outings. He completed six innings while allowing two runs on six hits, striking out five and walking none.

Wacha has not allowed more than three earned runs since surrendering seven against the Texas Rangers on May 4, going 10-2 with a 2.45 ERA over his last 16 starts.

Lucas Erceg allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth for his seventh save and fourth with Kansas City.

The Phillies opened the third with three straight hits, tying the game on Brandon Marsh’s run-scoring single.

Wacha struck out Kyle Schwarber on a controversial check-swing call and induced Trea Turner’s inning-ending double-play grounder, keeping the game tied 1-1.

Vinnie Pasquantino had two hits and scored two runs for the Royals, who have won seven of their past eight games.

Bryce Harper scored an eighth-inning run on reliever Kris Bubic’s wild pitch and Bryson Scott added a sacrifice fly, capping the scoring for the Phillies, who have lost four of their past five.

Returning from the injured list after missing 13 games with a left hamstring strain, Philadelphia’s Austin Hays batted ninth and played left field. He went 1-for-4.

–Field Level Media