The Royals’ struggles with the Red Sox continued on Sunday, as Boston was able to get an 8-4 victory over the spiraling Kansas City club and take 3-of-4 in the weekend series. Xander Bogaerts and Daniel Nava shined in the comeback win, while Joe Kelly stuck it out to improve his record to 2-2 since putting on the Boston uniform.
The second inning was a tough one for Kelly. He gave up 5 hits and 4 runs in the frame, including a three-run blast from first-baseman Eric Hosmer. Center fielder Jarron Dyson would grab an RBI on a ground out to bring in Omar Infante for the fourth run. After his offense answered in the third inning, Kelly really settled in and breezed through the next twelve outs without giving up a hit. Kelly’s final line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 SO, 1 HR.
The third inning was crucial for the Sox. After the slumping Will Middlebrooks (0-for-4, 2 K) led off with a strikeout, David Ross drew a walk. Jackie Bradley, Jr (1-for-4) would strike out as well. Mookie Betts kept the inning alive with a single, and it’s a good thing he did because that brought up Xander Bogaerts who crushed a three-run homer to left field.
With a 4-3 lead in the sixth, the Royals removed starter Jason Vargas (5-1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 8 SO, 1 HR) from the game after Betts and Bogaerts singled and both made great, heads-up base-running plays to tag up on a David Ortiz fly out. Right-hander Aaron Crow walked Yoenis Cespedes to load the bases. He regrouped to strike out Allen Craig. Daniel Nava came to the plate and hit a grand slam to right to quiet the Royals fans, and give the lead to the Red Sox for good. It was Nava’s first grand slam since 6/12/10, which was of course his first grand slam ever and came in his first at-bat ever.
Xander Bogaerts would add an RBI on a sacrifice fly to score David Ross in the seventh to give the Red Sox their eighth and final run of the day. Edward Mujica came on in the ninth in a non-save situation and made it a little interesting after loading the bases with two outs. Mujica was able to strike out Lorenzo Cole looking to lock up the game however.
On a day in which David Ortiz and Yoenis Cespedes combined to go 0-for-5 with three strikeouts, Boston didn’t miss a beat due to the huge homeruns from Bogaerts and Nava. Bogaerts has turned things around as of late and was able to 3-for-4 on Sunday with four RBI and two runs scored. He’s now hitting .240 on the year, and his increased offense has seemed to help him in the field as well as his defense was very solid all day.
Next up on the Red Sox schedule is a road trip to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates in a three game series. Anthony Ranaudo (3-2, 5.40) will look to get back in the win column against righty Charlie Morton (5-12, 3.84) tomorrow night at 7:05pm.
NOTES:
*Tommy Layne, Burke Badenhop and Craig Breslow each went 0.2 innings. Layne only gave up a walk while Badenhop and Breslow both gave up a hit.
*Mookie Betts continued to make his mark going 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored.