The Kansas City Royals fell to the Boston Red Sox, 8-6, on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park, as they were unable to hold on to a fifth-inning lead. The Red Sox won the three-game series, two games to one.
Royals pitcher Will Smith dug himself into an early hole, as he allowed five hits in the first two innings and gave up two runs However, Kansas City fought back in the fourth inning, plating four runs on an RBI single from Tony Abreu and a three-run home run off the bat of Lorenzo Cain. Smith kept the Sox at bay in the bottom half of the fourth, but allowed a solo homer to Pedro Ciriaco and an RBI single to James Loney in the fifth, which tied the game.
The Red Sox added on in the next few innings against the Royals bullpen, only to have the Royals rally again in the eighth. Kansas City would load the bases with nobody out, but Johnny Giavotella failed to capitalize, as he struck out for the first out of the inning. Eric Hosmer hit a sac fly to pull the Royals within two, then Abreu hit another RBI single to draw his club within one. However, with runners at the corners and two outs, Cain struck out looking to end the rally.
Abreu, Alex Gordon and Salvador Perez led the Royals offense with two hits apiece. Smith took the loss, falling to 4-6, while Pedro Beato was the winning pitcher for Boston despite allowing two runs in two innings.
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