The Boston Red Sox won the opener of a crucial three-game series with the Kansas City Royals 9-5 on Monday night at Kauffman Stadium.
With the win, the Red Sox improved to 60-51, while the Royals fell to 63-51.
Check out the full box score here.
ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
After Jarren Duran recorded his 35th double of the season in the top of the sixth inning to give the Red Sox a 4-2 lead, Boston exploded for four more runs in the seventh inning to break the game wide open.
Masataka Yoshida got the inning going with a leadoff double off Angel Zerpa after the Royals reliever replaced Brady Singer in the sixth. After Rafael Devers singled to right, Connor Wong knocked in Yoshida with his 12th double of the season. Devers would score the Red Sox's sixth run of the game on a Zerpa wild pitch. Wong crossed the plate when Romy Gonzalez launched his third home run of the season.
James Paxton had a solid night on the mound for Boston. He threw 68.9% of his pitches for strikes (62-of-90) striking out four. He surrendered two runs on five hits in six innings for his first win since rejoining the Red Sox after being acquired via a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 26.
STARS OF THE GAME
-- Duran broke the 2-all tie with a double down the left field line in the top of the sixth inning to give the Red Sox a 4-2 lead. He finished 1-for-4 from the dish with three RBIs. Duran also stole his 27th base of the season.
-- Gonzalez came in to pinch hit for Dominic Smith in the seventh inning. The infielder gave the Red Sox an 8-2 lead with a two-run shot off Zerpa.
-- Yoshida went 4-for-5 on the night with two doubles. The designated hitter scored two runs.
-- Wong had a solid night at the plate, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
ON DECK
The Red Sox continue their three-game set against the Royals on Tuesday night. First pitch from Kauffman Stadium is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. You can catch all the action, plus an hour of pregame coverage on NESN.
