Royals at Red Sox
In a matchup of the best and worst teams in the American League, the struggling Kansas City Royals came out on top by using some late-inning thunder on two occasions. A pair of dramatic home runs powered the Royals to a 7-6 victory over the Boston Red Sox and put them in position for their first series win of the year in Wednesday afternoon's rubber match at Fenway Park.
Jorge Soler provided the deciding blow with a three-run homer in the 13th inning, extending his hitting streak to seven games and handing Boston only its eighth loss. Alex Gordon picked a big moment for his first homer of the season, clubbing a solo shot off Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel in the ninth to send the game into extra innings. Boston did not go quietly even after the deflating homers, getting a tying solo blast from Eduardo Nunez in the 12th and scratching out a pair of runs in the 13th before losing for the third time in five games. Red Sox first baseman Mitch Moreland is 6-for-10 with a pair of homers, three RBIs and five runs scored in the series.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, NESN (Boston)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Danny Duffy (0-3, 5.40 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Drew Pomeranz (0-1, 7.27)
Duffy matched his season high with six innings last time out against the Chicago White Sox but remained winless, giving up four runs on six hits. He was pounded in his previous turn at Detroit, lasting 4 2/3 innings and allowing six runs on 10 hits -- both season worsts -- in his third loss. J.D. Martinez is 3-for-22 with a home runs and nine strikeouts against Duffy, who is 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA against Boston.
Pomeranz has labored in his first two starts, surrendering three home runs over five innings in a loss to Tampa Bay last time out after escaping with a no-decision despite lasting only 3 2/3 innings in his season debut at Oakland. He did not factor in the decision in two starts versus the Royals last year but gave up only three runs on 13 hits in 13 innings. Catcher Salvador Perez is 3-for-5 against Pomeranz.
WALK-OFFS
1. Red Sox RF Mookie Betts (hamstring), who came on as a defensive replacement Tuesday, is expected to return to the starting lineup Wednesday.
2. Kansas City released former Red Sox RH Clay Buchholz, who could opt out of his minor-league deal if he wasn't called up.
3. Kimbrel suffered his first blown save since Aug. 1, ending a streak of 17 straight conversions.