Escobar, Perez's formula for success: Victoria's Secret

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The secret to the Kansas City Royals' unexpected success is out, although opponents will say they got a whiff of what was happening a while ago.

Shortstop Alcides Escobar and catcher Salvador Perez, two of the Royals' key players in their march to the World Series, make a habit of wearing women's perfume to every game in an attempt to enhance their luck.

The custom began in the 2013 season when Escobar, who struggled offensively that year, sought some help from a Victoria's Secret fragrance.

"One day I put perfume on and got two or three hits,'' Escobar told USA TODAY Sports in Spanish, "and from there on we both started using it. He does too.''

Escobar, a terrific defensive player who batted .234 in 2013, lifted his average to .285 and scored a career-high 74 runs this past season.

Perez asked his fellow Venezuelan what had turned his fortunes, then decided to follow suit, although he opted for Carolina Herrera's 212.

Home plate umpires stationed behind Perez soon picked up on the scent – and liked it.

"You smell good, my friend,'' Perez said some umpires would tell him. "We sweat … that's going to stink. We've got to put on something.''

The driving force behind using the perfume is more superstition than hygiene. Like so many other ballplayers, Escobar and Perez wanted to stick with what was working. They only wear the perfume for games, though they might put on cologne off the field.

The perfume habit has not turned into a team-wide fad, like the Boston Red Sox growing beards last season. Escobar and Perez are the only ones who do it, and they'll merrily handle any teasing from opponents.

"Some of them will say, 'You going out tonight? Going to the disco?''' said Escobar, who plans to continue the practice. "We've had good results, good luck.''