Carlos Hernandez pitched six scoreless innings, Salvador Perez homered again and the Kansas City Royals beat the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox 5-0 on a blistering Thursday afternoon.
Perez put the Royals ahead with his 25th homer, a two-run shot in the first inning off Carlos Rodon (8-5). The Royals catcher hit a game-tying solo shot in the ninth Wednesday night before they won in 10 innings.
Kansas City won three out of four games in the series that ended with a hot matinee. It was 95 degrees at the start of the game, with a heat index of 106 that increased to 109 by the last pitch.
Hernandez (2-1) allowed just four hits, with one walk and four strikeouts. The right-hander allowed two baserunners in an inning only once, and only one runner reached third against him.
Perez hit his first-inning homer 446 feet to left-center. Michael A. Taylor, who had the game-ending RBI single the previous night, led off the second with a 432-foot homer to the same general area. Hunter Dozier and Taylor each added a sacrifice fly.
The Royals will be the first visiting team in Toronto this season, as the Blue Jays play their first home game in Canada since their 2019 season finale. Royals lefty Daniel Lynch (1-2, 7.88 ERA) goes for KC Friday night at 6:05.