Orlando carries Royals past Red Sox
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Paulo Orlando went 3-for-4 with a home run and triple and drove in four runs and Yordano Ventura pitched effectively into the sixth inning as the Kansas City Royals topped the Boston Red Sox 8-4 Tuesday night.
The defending World Series champion Royals won back-to-back games for the first time since April 21-22 and evened their record at 19-19. The Red Sox, who lead the majors with 233 runs, scored less than five runs for the first time in nine games.
The Royals broke the game open with a three-run eighth, which included Orlando's two-run homer off Koji Uehara. Uehara, also, committed a throwing error on an Omar Infante bunt, which allowed Salvador Perez, who had walked, to score from first base.
Ventura (4-2) limited the Red Sox to one run for 5 2/3 innings before yielding a Travis Shaw home run with Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez aboard. Pedroia singled and Ramirez was hit by a pitch before Shaw blasted a 1-0 offering out to right, pruning the Royals' advantage to 5-4. In his past seven games, Shaw has three home runs, 12 RBIs and scored nine runs.
Ventura, who leads the American League with 30 walks, was removed after walking the next hitter. Luke Hochevar replaced him and retired all four batters he faced.
Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello (6-2) was pulled after Cheslor Cuthbert led off the sixth with a double, ending his streak of 15 consecutive starts throwing at least six innings, which was the longest active streak in the majors.
Matt Barnes replaced Porcello and prevented Cuthbert, who had his first career three-hit game, from scoring.
Jackie Bradley Jr. continued his streak as the hottest hitter on the planet. Bradley, who Monday was named the American League player of the week, extended his hitting streak to a career-high 22 games, the longest streak in the majors this season, with a two-out RBI double in the second inning to put the Red Sox on top 1-0.
Bradley's scorching double to left brought home Travis Shaw, who had singled and scored for the 10 time in seven games. It was Bradley's 16th extra-base hit and 27th RBI in his hitting streak.
It was a short-lived lead, however, as the Royals scored five runs off Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello in the third and fourth innings.
Orlando, who collected five triples in his first seven big league games last year, tripled for the first time this season to leadoff the third and scored on Alcides Escobar's groundout. Eric Hosmer, who has hit safely in 32 of his past 34 games, homered, his seventh, with two out in the second, putting the Royals ahead 2-1.
The Royals bunched four consecutive singles and Bradley committed an error for three more runs in the fourth. Salvador Perez and Cheslor Cuthbert started it with one-out singles. Omar Infante's single to center scored Perez. When Bradley booted the ball, Cuthbert advanced to third and Infante to second. Orlando singled to center scored both.
Porcello required 99 pitches to make it through five innings.
NOTES: Royals 3B Mike Moustakas (fractured left thumb) said he reports Wednesday to Double-A Northwest Arkansas to begin a rehab assignment. He is eligible to be activated Friday when the Royals open a six-game trip at the White Sox. ... Red Sox RHP Joe Kelly (right shoulder impingement) struck out 10 and walked one in 6 1/3 scoreless innings in a rehab start Monday for Triple-A Pawtucket against Norfolk. Kelly will likely be activated Saturday and start against the Indians. ... Red Sox RHP Eduardo Rodriguez (right patella subluxation) has had a setback in his rehab assignment with Pawtucket and will miss his Thursday start because of knee soreness. ... The Royals have moved LHP Mike Minor (torn labrum) from Northwest Arkansas to Triple-A Omaha to continue his rehab. He could be ready by early June for the big league rotation after not pitching last season after surgery May 13, 2015. ... Red Sox RHP Steven Wright will pitch the day game and LHP David Price the night game Wednesday of a day-night doubleheader. The Royals will counter with RHPs Ian Kennedy and Edinson Volquez, in that order.