Royals continue hot streak with win over Red Sox
The Kansas City Royals (59-53) beat the Boston Red Sox (70-47) 5-1 for their 16th win in 20 games since the All-Star break.
Bruce Chen, making just his fifth start of the season, fueled the Royals to victory with a dominant performance, at one point retiring 11 batters in a row, before leaving in the eighth inning. He allowed five hits, struck out two and walked one, but most of his damage was done with 15 fly-ball outs.
"”A phenomenal job,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. ”He was ahead in the count most of the night. He commanded the ball down, commanded the ball up, changed speeds. Anytime you see a lot of popups, out-front swings, you know Bruce is on his game and he got an awful lot of them tonight.”"
Boston’s John Lester pitched seven innings, but he struggled from the start, giving up three runs in the first inning. However, he buckled down and struck out four while allowing just two hits through the rest of his innings. His replacement, Rubby De La Rosa gave up two home runs in the eighth inning to solidify Kansas City’s lead.
The Red Sox finally managed to score in the ninth, when Stephen Drew singled to send Jonny Gomes to score.
The Royals now sit 1.5 games behind Cleveland and 8.5 behind Detroit in the AL Central. The Red Sox are two games ahead of Tampa Bay for first place in the AL East.