By DAVID SMALE
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Xander Bogaerts had 4 hits, Alex Verdugo doubled twice and the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 7-4 Friday night time.
Verdugo had three hits as Boston evened the four-game collection at a win apiece. Josh Winckowski (5-5) allowed one run on 5 hits over 5 innings for the Red Sox.
Zack Greinke (3-7) allowed 4 runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings for Kansas City.
“It felt good. From top to bottom a lot of really good at-bats,” Verdugo mentioned. “We know Greinke. We know he kind of relies on over-aggression and expanding the strike zone. I think we did a really good job of making him come to us and then hitting the mistakes.”
The Red Sox received on the board within the second when ex-Royal Eric Hosmer pulled a double down the right-field line, scoring Verdugo.
Boston added two extra runs within the fourth. J.D. Martinez hit a double off the wall in left-center, driving in Bogaerts and Verdugo.
“Greinke is master of throwing pitches around the zone and getting people out,” Boston supervisor Alex Cora mentioned. “He’s been really good throughout his career. We had to grind at-bats.”
The Royals threatened of their half of the fourth. They loaded the bases with one out, however Kyle Isbel grounded again to Winckowski, who threw to the plate for the drive out, and Nicky Lopez struck out.
“Those drills from day 3 of spring training, that’s why you do them,” Winckowski mentioned. “When you’re (facing the) bases loaded with one out, you’re either thinking about a strikeout or a groundout. It just happened to be back to me. Then I had to make another pitch after that.”
Bogaerts drove within the Red Sox fourth run with a two-out single, chasing Greinke.
“(Bogaerts is) really good at going the other way,” Cora mentioned. “Today he did it a few times, and it started with the first at-bat. Today was one of those nights when you feel like something good is going to happen.”
Salvador Perez blasted a 454-foot house run to left within the fifth.
Boston received that run again when Reese McGuire drove in Hosmer, who had reached on an error, with a single.
Jarren Duran drove house two with a double within the eighth. The Royals received three within the eighth on Nate Eaton’s sacrifice fly and a two-run double by MJ Melendez.
HOMEGROWN
All 9 place gamers within the Royals beginning lineup, plus beginning pitcher Zack Greinke, had been initially signed or drafted by Kansas City. According to Elias, it’s simply the third recreation in franchise historical past — and second this season — by which the Royals have accomplished this. They did it final Friday night time at Yankee Stadium and on Sept. 19, 1990 at Minnesota.
TRAINING ROOM
Boston: RHP Michael Wacha is nearing his return to the Red Sox. He pitched 4 2/3 hitless innings Thursday night time for Triple-A Worcester. He and reliever Chase Shugart mixed for the primary no-hitter in WooSox historical past. Cora mentioned Wacha felt good at the moment and certain will get another begin earlier than returning to the father or mother membership.
Kansas City: SS Bobby Witt Jr. was not within the lineup Friday. Manager Mike Matheny mentioned the quantity of distance he lined in Thursday’s recreation prompted him to present his prized rookie a relaxation. Witt was out there as an alternative.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Royals will proceed their four-game collection Saturday night time. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-3, 4.11 ERA) will begin for Boston. LHP Daniel Lynch (4-7, 4.70 ERA) will get the beginning for the Royals.
Source: www.bostonherald.com