Red Sox Wrap: Royals Rally Prevents Boston From Series Sweep

The Boston Red Sox fell just short of sweeping the Kansas City Royals in Wednesday night’s 8-4 loss at Kauffman Stadium.

With the loss, Boston falls to 61-52 while Kansas City improves to 64-52.

Check out the full box score here.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Boston did its job by taking two of two to begin the series and secure a chance at recording its first sweep since returning from the MLB All-Star break. However, Kansas City had other plans in mind and refused to give in without a fight.

The Royals trailed the Red Sox, 4-2, in the bottom of the fourth inning and unloaded a game-altering attack at the plate against Boston right-hander Kutter Crawford. It began with a wild pitch thrown by Crawford which allowed Kansas City’s MJ Melendez to score with ease from third base, cutting the scoring deficit to one run with runners on first and second. Moments later, Bobby Witt Jr., who’d already broken open the scoreless tie with a first-inning home run off Crawford, tagged Boston’s starter again with a two-RBI double before the Royals finished by taking a 7-4 lead.

Crawford was charged with surrendering six earned runs through just 3 2/3 innings on the mound, marking the 28-year-old’s shortest outing recorded thus far in 2024. Witt’s first-inning round-tripper marked the 16th home run Crawford has allowed in eight starts made since the Midsummer Classic breather in July — continuing an ongoing stretch of struggles in which Crawford entered the night with a 4.35 ERA in 41 1/3 second-half innings.

Witt wasn’t done doing damage at the plate, but the Red Sox were as Kansas City’s bullpen held Boston scoreless throughout the remainder of the game. The Red Sox finished the night going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position while collecting just six hits. Masataka Yoshida was the only member of the lineup to record a multi-hit performance, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.

Boston also didn’t do any justice by its American League wild card bid, leaving Kansas City a game behind the Royals for the third and final postseason spot.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Witt put on a show at the plate by going 3-for-4 with two home runs and a double. The All-Star shortstop, alone, was responsible for driving four of Kansas City’s eight runs.

— Red Sox reliever Chris Martin, who was activated before first pitch and last made an appearance since July 3, tossed a scoreless eighth inning. Martin struck out three straight Royals hitters to log a spotless return to the mound.

— Kansas City’s Vinnie Pasquantino, too, went yard during the go-ahead rally in the fourth inning. Pasquantino finished 1-for-4, responsible for plating home two runs.

ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox will head back to Boston and prepare to host the Houston Astros for a three-game series starting Friday night. First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET, and you can catch the game, plus 90 minutes of pregame coverage, live on NESN.