BOSTON —Jarren Duran had four hits, Dominic Smith drove in three runs and Rafael Devers hit a home run so hard it broke a chair in right field on Sunday.
Not a bad day for the Red Sox’ offense.
The team’s bats, and a good performance on the mound from Bryan Bello, powered Boston past Kansas City, 5-4, at Fenway Park.
The Royals got on the board in the first inning with a lead-off home run over the right field wall from Adam Frazier. Bello bounced back later in the frame by forcing a ground out, fly out and striking out Salvador Perez.
Duran kick-started Boston’s offense in the bottom of the inning, legging out a lead-off double with a soft grounder up the middle. Later in the frame, with two outs on the board, Devers hit a home run over the right field wall, bringing home Duran from third, and making the score 2-1.
Boston kept that momentum going in the bottom of the second inning. Wilyer Abreu got on with a lead-off ground rule double to open the frame, then Dominic Smith brought him home with a two-run home run over the wall in right-center field to make the score 4-1.
The Red Sox knocked Kansas City starting pitcher Brady Singer out of the game after 2.2 innings. Singer exited the game after giving up eight hits, four earned runs, one walk and striking out three batters.
Kansas City got back on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Melendez grounded into a fielder’s choice with Hunter Renfroe getting thrown out at home while Perez scored from third to make it 4-2. The Royals got another run in the top of the sixth inning with a solo homer from Perez with one out on the board. Boston’s defense stopped the damage later in the frame with Massey grounding out and Bello striking out Renfroe.
Bello bowed out after 6.1 innings of work, striking out three, giving up seven hits and three earned runs. Bello threw 85 pitches, 60 for strikes.
Kansas City had a chance to tie the game when Brennan Bernardino came in to relieve Bello in the sixth inning, but with a runner on second and two outs, Bernardino battled in an at bat with Maikel Garcia and eventually struck him out, keeping the Royals off the board. Kansas City used a total of six pitchers on Sunday.
Smith gave Boston some insurance with a two out RBI single in the seventh inning, bringing home Devers from third base to make it 5-3.
Kenley Jansen pitched the final two innings; giving up two hits, walking one and striking out three.
Kansas City had a chance to tie the game or take the lead in the top of the ninth inning, getting runners on first and second with one out.
Freddy Fermin hit a line drive singles to center field, bringing Dairon Blanco home, but Garrett Hampson was thrown out on the play at third, giving Kansas City two outs with the tying run on second, but Jansen earned the save by forcing a ground out from Nick Loftin.
Boston will now head into the All-Star break before picking up the second half of the season on the road with a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers starting on July 19.
