Impact play of the game: Royals' Perez provides cushion with 2-run double in 6th

San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy deployed three different pitchers in the sixth inning of Game 2 of the World Series before summoning Hunter Strickland from the bullpen to face Salvador Perez with runners on first and second and just one out.

Jake Peavy's effectiveness had quickly waned, as the 33-year-old surrendered a leadoff single to Lorenzo Cain and issued a walk to Eric Hosmer moments later before yielding to the bullpen. His replacement, Jean Machi, floundered upon entering the game, surrendering a line-drive single to Billy Butler that plated Cain from second as the Royals grabbed a 3-2 lead.

Veteran left-hander Javier Lopez immediately replaced Machi and triumphed in his lone matchup as he induced a harmless flyout from Alex Gordon, prompting Bochy to summon Strickland. The 26-year-old right-hander promptly uncorked a wild pitch, though, that put a pair of runners in scoring position for Perez.

Though Perez entered Game 2 with just one hit in his previous three games, the two-time All-Star bested Strickland on Wednesday night, lacing a double to center field that extended his club's lead to 5-2.

Perez's timely double, his first of the postseason, increased Kansas City's win probability to 93 percent and ultimately helped the Royals even the series at 1-1.