The Red Sox had taken 2 out of 3 against the Royals and hoped to make it 3 out of 4 to win the series. The Sox aren’t going to be playing baseball in October, but that doesn’t mean they can’t play spoiler to those who hope to get into some post season action. Joe Kelly had one bad inning and was looking down the line of a loss until the Sox bats got him back in front by way of the long ball.
The Royals got on the board first when they scored 4 runs off Joe Kelly in the 2nd inning. Kelly gave up a 3 run homerun to Hosmer and then an RBI groundout to Dyson. Sox 0-4. It seemed like the Sox were gonna be in a hole early once again. However after Kelly’s struggle in the 2nd inning he hunkered down and gave the Sox bats the opportunity to rally for a win for him and for the team.
The Sox bats got right to work on the rally in the top of the 3rd. The Sox had two on with two outs and then Xander Bogaerts came to the plate. Xander hit a 3 run homerun to have the Sox within a single run. Sox 3-4. The score stayed the same for a while until the 6th inning when the Sox finally sent Royals starter Vargas packing. Vargas gave up two singles and left the mound with one out and runners on 2nd and 3rd. Royals’ reliever Crow came into the game and walked Cespedes to have the bases loaded with no outs. Allen Craig struck out and then it was up to Daniel Nava with the bases loaded and two outs. Daniel Nava got his job done and then some by hitting a grand slam to have the Sox leading 7-4.
Joe Kelly suddenly had new life and now was in line for a win. Kelly pitched a scoreless 6th inning and was done for the night. His pitching line was 99 pitches, 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB and 3 Ks. The Sox padded their lead in the 7th when Bogaerts hit an RBI sac fly to score David Ross. Sox 8-4. Tommy Layne took the mound in the 7th and got 2 outs before handing the ball over to Burke Badenhop who got the final out of the inning. Badenhop got one out in the 8th inning before Farrell went with Craig Breslow to finish off the inning. Breslow gave up a double, but then retired the next two in order to end the inning. Edward Mujica, the newly anointed closer, took the mound in the 9th looking even if it wasn’t a save situation. Mujica sure did make it dramatic though he ended up loading the bases with 2 outs. The Royals had the tying run at the plate and all of Red Sox Nation was holding their breath. Mujica wiggled out of trouble though and struck out Cain for the final out of the inning and the game.
Red Sox 8 Royals 4 BOXSCORE
WP: Kelly (2-2) LP: Vargas (11-9)
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