Red Sox continue to hit beating Royals 9-5
Boston Red Sox continue to hit and close the American League wildcard gap
HOUSTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 01: Manager Alex Cora #13 of the Boston Red Sox looks on from the dugout against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 01, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Bob Levey/Getty ImagesOn Monday night in Kansas City the Red Sox kicked off a big series with the Kansas City Royals who they trailed by 2.5 games in the wildcard at the start of the day. Boston headed into the series coming off a big series win over the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers, led by an emotional Wilyer Abreu's two home run game on Sunday night.
Boston would send veteran pitcher James Paxton who they added at the deadline to the mound against one of the better arms in the American League Brady Singer and his sub three ERA. Boston's offense would stay hot and strike first scoring two runs in the second inning giving Paxton a slight cushion to work with. Royals young superstar would single to right field to get a run across in the third inning and they'd strike again in the fourth to tie the game.
However as they've done all season the Red Sox would continue to battle and hit scoring a pair in the sixth inning off a Jarren Duran double and then blowing the game open in the seventh. Connor Wong would double to left scoring Yoshida, Devers would score on a wild pitch and then Romy Gonzalez would blow the game open with a pinch hit two run homerun to centerfield to make it 8-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
The Royals would put a little fear into the Sox scoring in the bottom of the seventh and the bottom of the eight cutting the lead to 9-5, but Boston's bullpen would shut the door in the 9th giving the Red Sox their 60th win of the season to put them 9 games over .500 and also give Alex Cora his 500th win as Red Sox manager.
The highlights of this one were Ceddanne Rafaela's spectacular outfield catch and Gonzalez's pinch hit blast to open the game up. Boston has been getting contributions from everyone on their roster all season and tonight was no exception.
The trade deadline adds of Paxton, Sims, Garcia and Danny Jansen have all made a difference since being acquired while the team looks to get themselves into playoff position. Boston now finds themselves only 1.5 games behind the Royals with two more games left in the series before they start a six game homestand against the Astros and Rangers.
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