THistoric blazes at Kauffman Stadium. The Venezuelan Salvador Pérez hit the 45th homer of his season, which ties the mark for a catcher in Major League history who had Johnny Bench.
Pérez hit the historic hit in the bottom of the first inning against the Athletics. With a count of a strike without balls and an out, with López in first, he encountered a cut fastball from Blackburn and deposited it through left center field.
Pérez’s hit equals the 45 home runs by Johnny Bench with the Cincinnati Reds in 1970. Perez has 16 games and the rest of Thursday’s game to break the mark.
Pérez is tied with another Latino, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., for the home run lead this season in the majors.