KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — James Shields earned his first home win in more than three months, Alex Gordon homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Sunday.
The Royals improved to 18-5 since the All-Star break, winning seven consecutive series.
Additional Photos
Shields (7-8), who had not won at Kauffman Stadium since an April 30 victory over Tampa Bay, limited the Red Sox to three runs and seven hits over seven innings. He struck out five and walked three.
Gordon hit a 2-2 pitch from John Lackey (7-10) out to right in the third inning for his third homer in five games.
Lackey, who is 0-4 in his past five starts, walked David Lough and Eric Hosmer to lead off the first. Gordon’s two-out single scored Lough to tie it at 1.
Shane Victorino scored Boston’s first run when he doubled in the first, swiped third and came home on catcher Salvador Perez’s errant pickoff throw.
The Royals scored two runs in the third, with Jarrod Dyson and Lough delivering RBI singles. Dyson’s hit drove home Mike Moustakas, who doubled to start the inning. Dyson stole second and scored on Lough’s flare to shallow right.
After a rocky start, Lackey lasted seven innings, giving up four runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out five.
Ryan Lavarnway’s two-out single in the sixth scored Daniel Nava and Stephen Drew, trimming the Kansas City lead to 4-3. Drew went 2 for 4 and is hitting .422 in his season-high, 12-game hitting streak.
Royals relievers Tim Collins, Aaron Crow and Greg Holland, who logged his 32nd save in 34 opportunities, worked two scoreless innings to protect the one-run lead. The bullpen has allowed one run in 20 innings on this homestand.
Notes: IF Miguel Tejada, 39, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf as the Royals made six roster moves. Perez came off the concussion list, while RHP Wade Davis was removed from the family emergency leave list and will start Monday against Miami. IF Irving Falu was recalled from Triple-A Omaha. LHP Donnie Joseph was optioned to Omaha, while C Brett Hayes was designated for assignment. . Red Sox RHP Clay Buchholz, who was 9-0 with a 1.71 ERA before going on the disabled list June 9 with a neck strain, threw another side session Sunday and is scheduled to throw again Tuesday. “We’ll get through Tuesday before we determine that,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said of sending Buchholz out on a rehab assignment. .Royals 2B Elliot Johnson is hitless in his past 27 at-bats and 1 for 49 since June 19.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.