Royals use home runs to top the Red Sox

It didn't take long for the Royals to build a solid lead over the Red Sox. They lead off the game scoring five runs before recording a second out. Knuckleballer Steven Wright came into the game with an excellent 3.01 ERA/3.39 FIP but those numbers would be rising after he left in the 7th. Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer homered to give the Royals five runs early.

Opposing Wright was Ian Kennedy, who wasn't having a good game himself but was able to limit damage. Kennedy allowed more hits than his counterpart and went just shy of an inning shorter, but only gave up two earned runs.

Command from Ian tonight was pretty off, working himself into deep counts to what felt like every batter. It was a mixture of good plate discipline from the Red Sox and Kennedy trying to work the corners. Kennedy loaded the bases in the bottom of the first with one out but was able to strike out Boston catcher Sandy Leon and Jackie Bradley Jr. to wiggle out of trouble.

Kennedy found himself in trouble again in the bottom of the third after allowing a leadoff double and a single to put two on with no outs. After a pop out, Kennedy got a repeat of the first with strikeouts of Leon and Bradley Jr. Kennedy gave up a second run thanks to Chris Young replacing him and being unable to strand the runner.

The Royals offense would be quiet after the first, collecting only three hits from innings 2-7. In the top of the 8th though Lorenzo Cain would homer (his first since May) to stretch the lead back to four runs at 6-2.

Ian Kennedy's inefficiency (threw 100 pitches by the 5th) would put the rest of the game on the bullpens shoulder. A bullpen that hasn't allowed a run in 38.2 innings coming into tonight.

Insert the B-Team bullpen. Chris Young  would work two innings out of the bullpen, flirting with a potential run before picking off Mookie Betts at first. Then lefty Brian Flynn would enter the eight and retire the side. To close out the 9th, and the game, Peter Moylan would enter to face the top of the Boston order.

Moylan wouldn't get an out after yielding two singles and forcing Ned Yost to bring in Kelvin Herrera. Jr. Cyborg came in to face David Ortiz and somehow got a 1-5-3 double play thanks to Ortiz's inability to run at a speed faster than a Rascal scooter.

With two down it looked like the Royals could stroll into the win but an airmail throw by Butera would move a runner to third and a Betts singled scored him. The streak would be over but not the game yet. With a runner on first Hanley Ramirez singled to bring the tying run to the plate in Sandy Leon. Herrera would get behind 3-0 to the catcher but an easy ground out on the next pitch ended the game.

Danny Duffy takes on David Price in a lefty showdown tomorrow night.