Masataka Yoshida homered and drove in three runs as the Boston Red Sox downed the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Tuesday evening.
Yoshida, who had four hits in Boston’s 9-5 win over Kansas City on Monday, hit a solo homer in the third inning on Tuesday — his sixth blast of the season. He then singled in two runs to cap a three-run sixth inning.
Opening the sixth, Boston’s Dominic Smith doubled and was later ruled out trying to score on Seth Lugo’s wild pitch, but the call was overturned after the Red Sox challenged it, breaking the 3-3 tie.
After Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the first, Boston answered quickly, taking advantage of second baseman Michael Massey’s first error of the season. David Hamilton’s RBI double and Ceddanne Rafaela’s run-scoring grounder gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead.
Kansas City tied the game with two out in the fifth on Massey’s 10th homer and Vinnie Pasquantino’s RBI double. After a walk to Salvador Perez, Boston starter Brayan Bello was pulled in favor of Brennan Bernardino (4-3), who the final out got and picked up the win with his only pitch of the game.
In 4 2/3 innings, Bello allowed three runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out six.
MJ Melendez’s two-run double in the eighth cut the Royals’ deficit to one, but Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen struck the final batter of that inning and two of three he faced in the ninth to earn his 21st save.
Boston has won six of eight games and three straight series.
The Red Sox have won four of five games against the Royals this year and 27 of 38 since the start of 2018.
Lugo (13-6) pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing six runs — four earned — on six hits and four walks. He struck out four. He has lost four of his past six starts.
Pasquantino collected three of Kansas City’s eight hits. He drove in two runs, raising his team-leading total to 82 RBIs.
The Royals have lost six of their past seven home games.
–Field Level Media
