Royals take 7-2 lead, Strickland barks at Perez

The Royals busted loose for five runs in the sixth, an inning that started with a little bloop single by Lorenzo Cain off Jake Peavy and included a two-run double by Salvador Perez – and then a two-run homer by Omar Infante off Hunter Strickland.

Strickland, the rookie reliever, started barking at Perez, the American League’s starting catcher in the All-Star Game, when Perez and Infante crossed the plate. That brought many of the Royals onto the field, and when Strickland was lifted for Jeremy Affeldt, one of the umpires even escorted Strickland off the field.

You’ll recall that Strickland appeared to motivate Washington’s Bryce Harper a little too much during the Division Series – after allowing a homer to Harper in Game 1, Strickland suggested he’d feel just fine throwing the same thing to Harper again. In Game 4, he did, and Harper went deep again and he appeared to be yelling at Strickland as he went around the bases.

Strickland might want to rethink his strategy: He’s allowed five postseason homers. And it’s not a great look to give up a bomb in a World Series game and then yap at one of your opponents, especially a widely respected player like Perez.

Infante’s homer was his first in 145 playoff at-bats; among current players, only Jon Jay (189 ABs) had more playoff at-bats without homering than Infante before this evening.

http://blog.sfgate.com/giants/2014/10/22/royals-take-7-2-lead-stickland-barks-at-perez/