The Boston Red Sox will look to wrap up their four-game swing through Kansas City on a positive note Sunday afternoon.
The Red Sox took the first two games of the series, but any aspirations of a sweep were dashed Saturday, when the Royals smacked around Boston pitching for seven runs and 12 hits in a 7-1 rout. Rubby De La Rosa lasted just four innings in that game — a performance Joe Kelly will not look to repeat.
Kelly, Sunday’s starter for Boston, was victimized by terrible defense behind him in his last outing (three errors, five botched double plays in a loss to the Baltimore Orioles). The right-hander again hurt himself with walks, however, issuing three free passes and hitting two batters.
Kelly has walked three or more batters in six of his seven starts in a Red Sox uniform.
The Royals will counter with left-hander Jason Vargas, who boasts the team’s second-lowest ERA (3.25) behind James Shields. Red Sox first baseman Mike Napoli has enjoyed great success against Vargas, going 12-for-32 with two doubles, four home runs, six RBIs and five walks lifetime against the southpaw.
Vargas won’t have to worry about dealing with Napoli on Sunday, though. Allen Craig will start at first base for the Red Sox.
Sunday’s first pitch is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET. NESN.com’s Zack Cox will live-tweet the game, so give him a follow and keep tabs on the action below.
You also can follow Sunday’s Red Sox-Royals game right here.
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