Jonathan Sanchez gave up six earned runs in just three innings as the Royals dug themselves a hole and fell 11-5 to the Red Sox in the series-opener.
Sanchez gave up four earned runs in the top of the first, including a three-run homer by Will Middlebrooks. The Royals responded with two-run second and third innings sandwiched around a one-run frame for Boston.
Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth to extend Boston's lead to 7-4. The Royals scored in the bottom of the seventh on a bases-loaded walk to Alex Gordon, but the Red Sox answered with a four-run eighth, which included another Middlebrooks home run, to pull away
Jarrod Dyson went 3-for-5 with a run scored. Gordon went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
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