By Darryl Harding Sr-
The Red Sox hosted the Royals at historic Fenway Park in the second game of a three game series. After catching an L in yesterday’s battle, Boston looks to tie the series and close their 4.5 game gap, to 1st place Baltimore.
Firing from the mound RHP Kutter Crawford spun a doozy, allowing only a hit into the 8th inning. A 3rd inning double by KC CF Garrett Hampson, who caught up with a 93 mph fastball, was one of 4 total hits permitted in the game.
A Kansas City single to begin the 8th would wrap up Crawford’s outing, throwing 24 first pitch strikes out of 26 batters faced. “ He was throwing strikes, man, like 85%,” remarked Sox manager Alex Cora, “efficient…a good one, he did an outstanding job.”
For the Royals starting pitcher righty Seth Lugo tossed from the rubber. Lugo was responsible for all 5 Red Sox runs, including a 369 ft. homer by 3B Rafael Devers, off of an 80 mph curveball that remained centered.
Red Sox had 12 hits in all, with 10 accredited to Lugo. Devers, clearing the Green Monster, blasted his 23rd jack of the season in the 5th which was the last of the 5 runs scored.
Previous scoring was attributed to a C Reese McGuire RBI double in the 2nd inning. Boston also posted a crooked number in the 3rd, beginning with two back-to-back singles by DH Masataka Yoshida and Devers.
A RBI double from RF Wilyer Abreu was followed by a 1B Dominic Smith single, that chalked up two more runs. Three scoreless innings were recorded by KC pitchers, LHP Kris Bubic lasted six outs and RHP Nick Anderson retired three.
Subbing for Crawford, RHP Zack Kelly finished the game and although he let the Royals hit two singles, he kept KC scoreless. Red Sox travel to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers in a 3 game series that begins after the All-Star break on 7/19.