Tampa Bay Rays

Salvador Perez really didn't appreciate getting plunked on his birthday

Published May. 11, 2017 8:30 a.m. ET

Chris Bahr

Salvador Perez celebrated his 27th birthday on Wednesday, but the Royals’ catcher took exception to the “gift” he got from Rays right-hander Chris Archer.

After singling against Archer in his first two at-bats, Perez caught a 96-mph fastball on the left elbow in the seventh inning – with Tampa Bay ahead 7-0. Perez took a few steps toward the mound and had some words for Archer, who seemed to indicate that the pitch wasn’t intentional:

Following the Royals' 12-1 loss, Perez had no doubt that he was targeted.

“He’s going to throw at me because I have two hits against him,” Perez said, via The Kansas City Star. “I think he was mad. But I don’t think that’s the right way, you know? He never throw the first pitch inside. We can see all the reports he has, he never throws inside. Just get (me) out, you know? Just try to make some pitches.”

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

However, Archer maintained it was accidental:

“Honestly, there was nothing malicious there,” Archer said, via The Star. “I’ve had some great interactions with him in the past. Whenever we crossed paths prior to that, we were just saying playful things to each other.”