KC 7, SF 2: Royals use 5-run 6th inning to level World Series at 1-1

Billy Butler and Salvador Perez drove in two runs apiece and Omar Infante blasted a two-run home run as the Kansas City Royals prevailed with a 7-2 victory over the San Francisco in Game 2 of the Fall Classic to knot the best-of-seven series at a game apiece.

The Royals staged a five-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning after chasing Giants starter Jake Peavy from the game. Butler, who went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, sparked the surge with an RBI single to left field off Giants reliever Jean Machi to help Kansas City pull ahead 3-2.

Two batters later, Giants manager Bruce Bochy called on Hunter Strickland to face Perez. Strickland promptly unleashed a wild pitch with runners on first and second, allowing both runners to advance into scoring position. Perez took advantage, crushing a two-run double to put Kansas City up 5-2.

It got even worse for Strickland after he served up a two-run homer to the next batter, Omar Infante. Strickland lashed out at Perez after he came around to score on the homer, resulting in a heated exchange between the two players. The Royals dugout began to clear in defense of Perez, but umpires did an excellent job of diffusing the situation before it escalated. Bochy then lifted Strickland, who has now served up a record five home runs this postseason.

Gregor Blanco silenced the crowd at Kauffman Stadium with a leadoff homer to begin the contest  - the first in Giants' World Series history.

Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval also extended his on-base streak in the postseason to 25 games with a double in the fourth inning. It's the third-longest streak all-time (tied with Boog Powell) behind Miguel Cabrera (31) and Chase Utley (27).

San Francisco reliever Tim Lincecum, who made his first postseason appearance, left the game in the eighth inning with lower back tightness.

Starting pitchers' lines

X-factor

Royals manager Ned Yost made a crucial decision to pull starter Yordano Ventura in the top of the sixth inning after he put two runners on with one out in a 2-2 game. Yost brought fireballer Kelvin Herrera into the game and he promptly retired Brandon Belt and Michael Morse with his highly-effective fastball to end the threat. Herrera also pitched out of another jam in the seventh inning after issuing two walks to help preserve the lead.

Highlights

Perez's two-run double:

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

A frustrated Strickland lashes out at Perez:

Quote of the Night

Up Next

The scene now shifts to San Francisco for the next three games of the series. Game 3 goes Friday when Jeremy Guthrie (0-0, 1.80 ERA) takes the ball for the Royals opposite Tim Hudson (0-0, 3.29 ERA). The 39-year-old Giants right-hander will make his first career World Series start despite reaching the postseason six previous times.