Red Sox at Royals
The Kansas City Royals welcome a weary opponent as the Boston Red Sox come to town to begin a three-game series. Boston completed a 1-5 homestand with a 17-inning loss to Baltimore on Sunday that lasted just over six hours and saw both teams employ position players as pitchers. Red Sox outfielder Darnell McDonald gave up a three-run homer in the top of the 17th before grounding into a game-ending double play while representing the tying run.
The Red Sox will be glad to be away from Fenway Park, where they've lost 10 of their last 11. Kansas City split its four-game home series against the New York Yankees, picking up its first two wins at Kauffman Stadium after losing its first 10 there.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FSN (Kansas City)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Felix Doubront (1-1, 5.19 ERA) vs. Royals LH Jonathan Sanchez (1-1, 5.24 ERA)
Doubront is coming off his shortest outing of the season, a four-inning performance in which he allowed five runs en route to his first loss. The 24-year-old is 1-0 with a 4.09 ERA in two road starts. Doubront, who will be facing the Royals for the first time, will be asked to pitch deep into the game as Boston depleted its bullpen in Sunday's marathon loss.
Sanchez is winless since defeating the Los Angeles Angels in his Kansas City debut on April 8. The veteran did not figure in the decision in his last start despite allowing just one hit over five innings at Detroit on Wednesday. He left his previous outing with an undisclosed illness. Sanchez won his only career decision against the Red Sox.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Sunday's game at Boston was the first since 1925 in which both teams put a position player on the mound.
2. Adrian Gonzalez was the only member of the Red Sox without a hit, going 0-for-8 and striking out against Baltimore infielder Chris Davis in the 17th inning.
3. 2B Irving Falu made his major-league debut for the Royals on Sunday after nearly 950 games in the minors. He went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored.