After a slow start on Tuesday night, the Boston Red Sox rallied to score eight runs over the final four innings beating the second worse team in baseball the Kansas City Royals 8-3 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
Kansas City got on top first in this one. Cheslor Cuthbert took Eduardo Rodriguez deep over the left field wall for a two run homer in the second inning. The two run shot was just his second of the season. Royals starting pitcher Glenn Sparkman shut down Boston over the first five innings, allowing no runs and only two hits. After Mookie Betts led off the sixth inning with a double to right field, Sparkman got Andrew Benintendi to fly out but then was relieved after 80 pitches. JD Martinez followed with an RBI triple off Scott Barlow to cut the deficit to a run. Martinez missed a homerun by inches as the ball landed on top of the right field fence and rolled back into the field of play. Rafael Devers then walked, and Xander Bogaerts tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right. Brock Holt provided the eventual game winner and gave the Sox their first lead of the night 3-2 with a double down the right field line that scored Devers.
The score remained the same until the eighth, when Boston (31-29) added some insurance against another KC reliever Jake Diekman. Martinez led off with a single and Bogaerts also singled with one out to put runners on first and third. Eduardo Nunez then pinch hit for Holt, and hammered a long three run homer to left center field for a four run lead. Devers added a two run double in the ninth
Rodriguez (6-3) earned the win on the hill for the Sox allowing two runs, six hits, with no walks, along with seven strikeouts in 5.2 innings. The bullpen combination of Heath Hembree, Marcus Walden, Brandon Workman, and Ryan Brasier pitched 3.1 innings of one run and one hit relief. Martinez had three hits and a pair of runs scored, while Holt added two hits on the night for Boston. Sparkman got a no decision but pitched solidly allowing just one run on three hits in 5.1 innings. Barlow (1-2) took the loss in relief of the starter for the Royals, who fall to 19-41. Billy Hamilton had two hits for KC.
Game two of the three game series is scheduled for an 8:15 first pitch Wednesday night. Chris Sale looks for just his second win of the season, and will be opposed by Royals right hander Jakob Junis.
