Royals’ Salvador Perez homers vs Yanks in return from injury

NEW YORK (AP) — All-Star slugger Salvador Perez hit a go-ahead, three-run homer for the Kansas City Royals in his return from the injured list against the New York Yankees. Last year’s major league home run champion batted third as the designated hitter barely a month after surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. He flied out to left field and struck out in his first two at-bats, then launched a no-doubter to left-center off Gerrit Cole in the fifth inning to put Kansas City ahead 5-3. His drive came one at-bat after Whit Merrifield’s two-run single ended the Royals’ scoreless streak at 31 2/3 innings.