KANSAS CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Wilyer Abreu homered and singled twice to help the visiting Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 win against the Kansas City Royals in the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday.
Rafael Devers homered, singled and drove in the other two runs for the Red Sox, who have won four of five.
Lucas Giolito (1-1) made his third start of the season for Boston and allowed one unearned run and two hits over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one.
Justin Wilson and Greg Weissert combined for 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief before Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth for his sixth save.
Royals starter Seth Lugo (3-4) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.
Kansas City had won seven of eight and 10 of 12.
Giolito retired the first six batters before Drew Waters singled up the middle to lead off the third. Luke Maile then walked, bringing up No. 9 hitter Kyle Isbel, who laid down a bunt but Giolito’s throw to third got away, allowing Waters to score for 1-0 lead.
The Royals had runners at first and second with one out later in the inning, but Giolito struck out Bobby Witt Jr. before getting Vinnie Pasquantino to ground out to end the inning.
Abreu pulled a hanging curveball over the bullpen in right field for a 430-foot solo homer in the fourth, tying the score 1-1.
Lugo gave up a one-out single to Jarren Duran in the sixth. Devers then lifted the next pitch over the fence in center for a 440-foot two-run homer, giving Boston a 3-1 lead.
Steven Cruz pitched the seventh for the Royals, his 18th consecutive scoreless appearance over the past two seasons.
Daniel Lynch IV started the eighth for Kansas City and gave up a leadoff double down the third base line to Carlos Narvaez, who then moved to third on a sacrice bunt.
Lynch bounced back to strike out Duran before Devers was walked intentionally. John Schreiber then came in and struck out Bregman to end the threat.