BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox will have plenty of momentum and a rested bullpen when they open their three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals tonight at Fenway Park.
Boston completed a three-game sweep by beating the visiting Houston Astros 6-1 on Sunday, running its winning streak to five games. The Red Sox have registered seven victories in their past eight games overall.
“I feel like we’re kind of figuring out our identity a little bit,” Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder said. “Guys are settling into their roles. The trade deadline has passed and it’s go time.”
Center fielder/second baseman Ceddanne Rafaela added: “Our mindset is not only on the Yankees, it’s just playing good baseball and trying to win the division.”
Boston has won its past five home games. The Red Sox are 12-1 in their last 13 home contests, and they own a 37-21 record at Fenway Park this season, the third-highest home win total in the majors.
“We’re much better than the last two years,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “We’re healthier. … We have a complete team. Guys are playing with an edge now. You can tell. Like I said, this place (Fenway Park) — it’s fun. It’s fun again.
“We just have to continue. Kansas City is playing good baseball. We have to show up (Monday) and try to win a game.”
Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito pitched a season-high eight innings and limited Houston to one run on three hits during the Sunday win.
“Between him and (Brayan) Bello, they’re doing an outstanding job,” Cora said. “So we have capable guys who can go out there and compete. … We trust our guys. All of them — Bello, Gio and obviously (Garrett) Crochet has been amazing the last two months.”
Bello (7-5, 3.19 ERA) is Boston’s scheduled starter for Monday. He is 1-0 with a 3.57 ERA in 17 2/3 innings over three career games (all starts) against the Royals.
Left-hander Bailey Falter (7-5, 3.73 ERA) is expected to make his Kansas City debut as the Monday starter. Falter, who was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates before the Thursday trade deadline, is 1-1 with a 7.94 ERA in two games (one start) in his career against Boston. He has seven strikeouts and one walk in 5 2/3 innings against the Red Sox.
Kansas City also acquired rookie right-hander Ryan Bergert from the San Diego Padres on Thursday. He is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday in Boston.
“(The) message to those guys is, ‘Look, your job is to help us … give us the best chance to win,’” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “‘Go out there and compete your butt off for as much as you can.’”
Like Boston, Kansas City has been playing winning baseball lately. The Royals came from behind to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-4 in 10 innings on Sunday. Kansas City trailed 2-1 before tying the game in the eighth and then scoring five runs in the 10th.
The victory gave Kansas City two wins in the three-game series at Toronto. The Royals have won four of their past five games and each of their past four series.
The Royals will not have Steven Cruz available in the near future. The right-handed reliever, who left the Saturday game against the Blue Jays after feeling discomfort in his right shoulder, was placed on the 15-day injured list before the Sunday contest. Cruz has a 3.61 ERA in 42 1/3 innings (43 games) this season.
–Field Level Media