Boston Red Sox vs. Kansas City Royals Pick & Prediction AUGUST 6th 2024
Preview and Prediction
As the Boston Red Sox get ready for the second game of a crucial three-game series against the Kansas City Royals, they anticipate a boost to their bullpen with the return of right-handers Chris Martin and Justin Slaten. Both players have been on the injured list since early July, but are expected to make their comeback during this series. According to Boston manager Alex Cora, Martin will likely be activated on Wednesday after staying an extra night at home. Slaten, who has been dealing with elbow inflammation like Martin, has also been making progress and could return to the bullpen soon. The Red Sox were pleasantly surprised by the recent news about Trevor Story, who was initially thought to be out for the rest of the season due to a left shoulder dislocation. However, the shortstop has been making significant progress and could potentially return to the field this season. Cora expressed his excitement about the possibility of Story's return, saying, "I never thought we were going to get to this point. I'm excited. Obviously, not a hundred percent that it's going to happen, but the fact that he is doing everything possible to make it happen is great." Story has been travelling with the team and has been seen swinging a bat. After winning the first game of the series 9-5, the Red Sox will send right-hander Brayan Bello to the mound on Tuesday as they aim for their third consecutive series victory. Bello has a 1-0 record with a 2.77 ERA in two career starts against the Royals. On the other hand, the Royals will have right-hander Seth Lugo on the mound. Lugo has made four appearances against the Red Sox, with one start, and has a 0-2 record with a 7.56 ERA. In his latest start, he pitched eight innings and only allowed one run against the Detroit Tigers. While Bobby Witt Jr. has been making headlines for the Royals' offense, teammate Vinnie Pasquantino has also been contributing to their success. The team has hit at least one home run in 11 consecutive games, and Pasquantino has been on a hot streak with five home runs in his last six games. According to Royals manager Matt Quatraro, Pasquantino has been a key player in their lineup, saying, "Vinnie's a run producer. He's had some good games for us, especially lately." In his last 35 games, Pasquantino has a batting average of .329 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs. Overall, both teams are looking to continue their success in this series, with the Red Sox aiming for their third straight series win and the Royals hoping to extend their home run streak. It will be an exciting matchup between two talented teams.
Boston Red Sox vs. Kansas City Royals Recap AUG 6TH 2024
Jarren Duran hit a tiebreaking double in the sixth inning, leading the visiting Boston Red Sox to a 9-5 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday.
With two outs, Duran smacked his American League-leading 35th double inside the left field line, scoring two to snap a 2-2 tie. The Red Sox added four runs in the seventh to pull away.
The Red Sox have won five of seven, and they gave Alex Cora his 500th managerial win, fourth most in club history.
Boston starter James Paxton pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four.
Paxton (9-3), acquired July 26 in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, collected his first win since returning to the Red Sox, for whom he went 7-5 last year.
Duran drove in three runs, Masataka Yoshida had four hits and Connor Wong had two hits and two RBIs for Boston, which earned its fourth win in five games.
Maikel Garcia had two hits and an RBI and Michael Massey doubled, tripled and scored twice for the Royals, who had won six of their previous seven games.
Kansas City starter Brady Singer (8-7) allowed four runs on a season-high 10 hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
David Hamilton opened the scoring in the second inning, bouncing an RBI double past first base. Two batters later, Duran gave Boston a 2-0 lead with a run-scoring grounder.
Bobby Witt Jr. cut the deficit in half with a two-out, opposite-field RBI single in the third. The Royals tied the game in the fourth on a two-out triple by Michael Massey and Freddy Fermin's run-scoring infield hit.
Fermin then recorded his first major league stolen base but was stranded at second.
Singer struggled to locate his sinker early on, working long counts while allowing six hits -- all to left-handed hitters -- among the first 12 batters. In all, nine of the 10 hits against the right-hander came from lefty swingers.
Pinch hitter Romy Gonzalez socked his third homer to highlight the seventh-inning rally against reliever Angel Zerpa, who allowed five hits and four runs while getting just one out.
Yoshida snapped an 0-for-16 slide and matched his career high with four of Boston's 18 hits.
Boston has recorded at least 10 hits in 12 of its past 13 games and leads the majors with 49 games of at least ten hits.
The Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino hit a leadoff homer in the eighth -- his 16th -- to cap the scoring.