Tyler Tolbert tied the major league record with hits in 12 consecutive plate appearances, helping the visiting Kansas City Royals storm back to beat the New York Mets 16-12 on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game interleague series.
Salvador Perez hit a tiebreaking double to spark Kansas City’s seven-run seventh-inning rally.
Tolbert finished 5-for-6 with a two-run homer for the Royals, who overcame a trio of multi-run deficits to win their third straight game. New York held its biggest lead, 9-4, after four innings.
Tolbert went deep in the second inning, then singled in four straight at-bats to tie the big-league record of going 12-for-12 in 12 plate appearances. The mark was set by Johnny Kling of Chicago’s National League team in 1902 and matched by Walt Dropo of the Detroit Tigers in 1952.
The streak ended when Tolbert flied out while leading off the ninth inning.
Kansas City’s Lane Thomas went 3-for-4 with four RBIs while Nick Loftin finished 3-for-5 with a two-run homer. Perez and Michael Massey had two hits and two RBIs apiece while Bobby Witt Jr. also added two RBIs.
Every Royals player finished with at least one hit.
A.J. Ewing wound up 4-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs for the Mets, who had their two-game winning streak snapped. Juan Soto hit a three-run homer.
Beck Way (1-0) retired both batters he faced in the seventh and earned his first major league win. Matt Strahm allowed one run in the eighth before Lucas Erceg threw five pitches in a 1-2-3 ninth.
Royals starter Seth Lugo surrendered nine runs (six earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out four over 4 1/3 innings. The nine runs allowed were a career high for Lugo.
New York reliever Matt Seelinger (0-1) permitted seven runs on five hits and four walks in two innings. He fanned two.
Mets opener Cionel Perez gave up two hits in a scoreless first inning. Bulk reliever Kodai Senga allowed four runs on five hits and four walks while striking out four over three innings.
