Red Sox 4, Royals 3
Dustin Pedroia broke out of a mini-slump with three hits and three RBIs as the Boston Red Sox edged the host Kansas City Royals 4-3 Thursday night.
Pedroia, who entered the game in a 3-for-18 slide over his previous five games, put his struggles to rest with a two-run single in the third inning and a run-scoring base hit in the fifth.
Both hits came off Royals starter Luke Hochevar to put Boston ahead for good. It was Pedroia's first three-hit effort since July 27, and his first three-RBI performance in exactly a month.
The Red Sox remained one-half game behind the American League East-leading New York Yankees, who posted an 8-4 triumph over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.
Josh Beckett (10-5) continued his dominance over Kansas City, throwing seven innings of seven-hit ball to improve to 7-1 all-time versus the Royals. He allowed three runs while striking out four and not walking a batter.
Jonathan Papelbon worked the ninth for his 29th save of the season.
Hochevar (8-10) surrendered four runs over six innings en route to his second straight loss.
Billy Butler had three hits and Alex Gordon belted his 16th homer - and second in as many nights - in defeat. Jeff Francoeur, who signed a two-year contract extension earlier in the day, went hitless in four trips to the plate.