Royals’ Salvador Perez has crushed this Yankees pitcher. He homered off him again in ALDS

The Kansas City Royals faced a familiar foe in New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon on Monday night.

One that Royals captain Salvador Perez knows really well.

A little too well.

Rodon started Game 2 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium. It was his third start against the Royals this season.

In the fourth inning, Perez got Rodon once again. He blasted a 402-foot home run over the left-field wall as the Royals tied the game at 1-all. It was his fourth career homer against Rodon and his sixth in the postseason overall.

The Royals won Monday’s game 4-2, tying the series 1-1 as the ALDS shifts back to KC.

“He is one of the best lefties in the league,” Perez said of Rodon ahead of Game 2.

Perez has faced Rodon several times in his career. Entering Monday, Perez had batted .462 (12-of-26) with three home runs and nine RBIs against him. In their last encounter, Perez hit a home run at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 9.

Perez went 1-for-4 in Game 2 with the all important home run.

“I just tried to do my job,” Perez said pregame of past matchups vs. Rodon. “The way I’ve got good success against him, he’s got a lot of strikeouts against me, too. I think we are 50-50, you know. I think he tries to do his job and I’m trying to do my job and help my team to win.”

Perez got a 90.3-mph slider in the middle of the plate. He drilled the baseball and took a quick second to admire his handiwork.

The Royals scored four runs in the fourth inning and chased Rodon from the game. KC veterans Tommy Pham, Garrett Hampson and Maikel Garcia each had RBI singles.

Perez had three hits in 12 at-bats prior to Monday’s contest. However, his career numbers at Yankee Stadium suggested a big game could be in store. Perez now has 10 home runs and 27 RBIs at the iconic venue.

“We know we’re going to have to swing the bats to beat these guys,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said pregame. “They’re a good lineup, especially — you can’t expect to keep them to zero or one run very often. We know we’re going to have to swing the bats, and I certainly hope they built some confidence (Saturday).”

The Royals found an early rhythm. Rodon pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing seven hits, four runs and striking out seven batters.