The Red Sox and Royals clashed Tuesday night, in a high-scoring thriller as Boston would go on to beat Kansas City, 7-6.
Whit Merrifield launched a leadoff home run off Nick Pivetta in the very first at-bat of the ballgame, to put the Royals ahead 1-0. That would be followed up by two two-run homers in the later innings off the righty, as Pivetta lasted just 4.1 innings.
The right-hander ended his night allowing six runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out five, being taken out in the fifth after Ryan O’Hearn launched a two-run homer to put the Royals up 6-5.
J.D. Martinez led the Red Sox offense, going 2-for-2 with two walks, plating four runners. Martinez had an RBI single in the first inning, before hitting a sacrifice fly in the fourth and a two-RBI double in the sixth, which gave the Sox the 7-6 lead. Boston also had RBIs from Kike Hernandez (single), Xander Bogaerts (single), and Hunter Renfroe (sac fly).
Yacksel Rios, Darwinzon Hernandez, and Adam Ottavino combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, as they allowed just four hits before Matt Barnes struck out the side in the ninth to secure the victory.
The Red Sox grabbed their fifth consecutive win, as they move to 49-31.
Game notes:
- Matt Barnes notched his 18th save of the year
- Yacksel Rios picked up the win, going 1.2 hitless innings
- The Red Sox walked seven times while grabbing 12 hits
- Despite scoring a combined 13 runs, the Red Sox and Royals left a combined 36 men on-base
(Photo: J.D. Martinez watches his sac fly/AP Photo/Charles Krupa)