BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Kansas City Royals have lost four of their last five games but can split a four-game road series against the Boston Red Sox when the teams meet in the series finale tonight.
Boston prevailed 4-3 Wednesday after the teams split the first two games in the series at Fenway Park.
The Royals will use left-hander Austin Cox as an opener Thursday, but righty Alec Marsh (0-5, 6.75 ERA) is expected to get the bulk of the work on the mound. He’ll be opposed by lefty James Paxton (6-3, 3.60).
“Overall a good one,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said following Wednesday’s win. “Hopefully we show up (Thursday) and Pax can give us six innings and go from there.”
Cox (0-1, 3.58) has a 1.16 WHIP in 27 2/3 innings this season.
Marsh allowed three runs on six hits in four innings during his last start, a no-decision in Kansas City’s 9-6 loss to Philadelphia on Saturday. Marsh was pitching on short rest after he tossed a scoreless inning in a relief appearance the previous Tuesday. He’ll be pitching against Boston for the first time in his career.
Paxton had a 4.95 ERA in four July starts, then gave up three home runs in five innings during his only start in August — Friday night’s 7-3 loss to the Blue Jays.
“You go through stretches where you feel really good (and) the ball is coming out great,” Paxton told The Boston Globe. “In other stretches, you’ve got to battle a bit more. I’m working my butt off trying to get back to a stretch where it’s feeling a little bit better out there.”
Paxton is 3-0 with a 1.70 ERA in seven career starts against the Royals. He has 53 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings.
Justin Turner, who has been dealing with a bruised left heel, isn’t expected to return to the Red Sox lineup until Friday at the earliest. Turner was injured on July 31 when he beat out an infield single against Seattle. He missed three games and then played in the next three, but hasn’t been in the lineup since Monday’s 6-2 victory over Kansas City.
Turner is hitting .284 and is second on the team in home runs (17) and RBIs (71).
“Hopefully we can get him ready for the weekend (against Detroit),” Cora said.
Kansas City’s MJ Melendez hit two home runs in Wednesday’s loss. He also went deep in Tuesday’s 9-3 victory.
“It validates the work he’s been putting in and the progress he’s been making, so I’m very happy for him,” Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said.
The Royals stole six bases Tuesday, but pinch runner Dairon Blanco was thrown out attempting to swipe second for the second out in the ninth inning Wednesday. Kansas City also had a runner (Maikel Garcia) picked off second in the fifth inning of Wednesday’s loss.