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Red Sox, Yankees: Tied for the Cellar

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Unmasked: NY Yankees Take Two in Day/Night Twin Bill

BOSTON: (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The four-game series between the Boston Red Sox and the visiting New York Yankees this week is a battle between the bottom two teams in the American League East — not the normal spot for two perennial contenders.

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After being swept in a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday to begin the set, Boston will look to grab a win Wednesday to avoid falling into last place in the division. Both teams are currently 73-72.

“Tough season for both of us, let’s be honest,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “They’ve had their things, and with us, I know before the season not too many people thought we were going to be in the playoff hunt, but we believed. Things haven’t gone our way.”

Things sure didn’t go Boston’s way on Tuesday, as the Red Sox went 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position and were held to three runs on 13 hits over the two games.

The Yankees won the first game 3-2 and the nightcap 4-1.

Among the few highlights of the twin bill for Boston was the continued emergence of rookie Ceddanne Rafaela, who hit his first career homer in the second game.

Rafaela, 22, started at shortstop in Game 1 and in center field in Game 2. According to Elias Sports Bureau, only one player in Red Sox history (Felix Mantilla in 1964) did that previously in a doubleheader.

In addition to improved plate discipline, “the fact that he can be versatile (opens up multiple possibilities),” Cora said of Rafaela. “Versatility is a big part of this game. It helps your roster. He’s a good defender at short, at center field and other positions.”

Boston right-hander Tanner Houck (4-9, 5.28 ERA) is scheduled to start on Wednesday. He allowed five runs in 5 1/3 innings on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles while marking his fourth appearance since returning from a facial fracture that kept him off the field for more than two months.

Houck has enjoyed success against the Yankees in his career, going 2-2 with a 2.39 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings over 11 games (six starts). This year, he has no decisions and a 2.70 ERA two starts vs. New York.

After its first doubleheader sweep at Fenway Park in 17 years, New York is 11-4 over its past 15 games. The Yankees broke a seven-game head-to-head skid against Boston.

The Game 2 win was Aaron Boone’s 500th as Yankees manager.

New York was successful in key situations on Tuesday. Gleyber Torres’ go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth inning was one of only five Yankees hits in the opener.

In the nightcap, the Yankees scored two runs in the ninth to clinch the win.

“The end of the season is about having the discipline to go out there and still be at your sharpest and put your best foot forward,” said catcher Kyle Higashioka, who went 3-for-4 in Game 1. “At this point, we’ve got to show some character and finish strong, no matter what the circumstances are.”

Clarke Schmidt (9-8, 4.54 ERA) will start for the Yankees on Wednesday. He was originally set to pitch Monday before the start of the series was delayed due to rain.

Schmidt earned a victory on Sept. 6 against the Detroit Tigers, striking out six over 6 1/3 innings of three-run ball. The 27-year-old right-hander has allowed three or fewer runs in all but one of his past 19 starts while working at least five innings 16 times during that span.

“On the whole, he’s just gotten to be a much better pitcher, more polished pitcher,” Boone said last week. “I think he’s proven that he can be a starter in this league. I think he’s really got a grasp of his arsenal and how to use it and where to use it.”

Schmidt is 0-1 with a 4.03 ERA in seven appearances (three starts) against the Red Sox in his career. In three starts vs. Boston this year, he has no decisions and a 2.87 ERA.

–Field Level Media

First Game Story:

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – A three-run sixth inning lifted the visiting New York Yankees to a 3-2 win over the Boston Red Sox in Tuesday afternoon’s opener of a day-night doubleheader.

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Kyle Higashioka had three hits and Gleyber Torres hit a two-run single to lead the Yankees (72-72), who won their second straight following a three-game skid. DJ LeMahieu doubled and scored a run for New York.

Right-hander Jhony Brito (7-7) earned the win after working around three hits in 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief as the last-place Yankees moved within a game of the fourth-place Red Sox.

Rafael Devers hit his 30th home run of the season for the Red Sox (73-71), while Triston Casas had three hits with a double and a run.

New York closer Clay Holmes walked three straight Boston batters with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Alex Verdugo grounded into a game-ending double play for Holmes’ 19th save.

Right-hander Nick Pivetta (9-9) took the loss despite striking out seven of the first 10 batters he faced and finishing with 10 strikeouts across 5 1/3 innings. Higashioka’s two-out single in the third was the first Yankees hit.

New York starter Randy Vasquez allowed only one hit — a Casas leadoff single in the second — before Devers began the fourth with a first-pitch solo homer to right-center.

Casas wound up scoring the second Boston run after his one-out double in the fourth, moving to third on a ground ball and crossing the plate after a wild pitch.

The Yankees batted around and forced Pivetta out of the game in the midst of a three-run sixth that began when Everson Pereira was hit by a pitch.

Higashioka followed with his second hit before LeMahieu lined an RBI double to left, making it a 2-1 game. Two batters later, New York took a 3-2 lead as Torres shot a two-run single inside the first base bag.

A walk ended Pivetta’s day and reliever Mauricio Llovera stranded the bases loaded to keep the hosts within a run.

The Boston bullpen held the game there, including John Schreiber striking out the side in the ninth to cap two scoreless innings.

Three New York relievers allowed just one combined hit after Vasquez and Brito worked the first six frames.

Vasquez allowed two runs on three hits and struck out three over 3 2/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

Sox, Yankees: Try to Avoid the “Cell-ah”

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BOSTON – The visiting New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, teams battling to avoid the cellar in the American League East, will meet tonight in the first game of a four-game series, weather permitting.

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The Yankees (71-72) are at the bottom of the division, two games behind the fourth-place Red Sox (73-70). Odds available HERE.

New York had lost three in a row until defeating the visiting Milwaukee 4-3 on Sunday. The Yankees prevailed when catcher Kyle Higashioka drove in Everson Pereira with a double in the 13th inning. New York had been no-hit through regulation.

“Really good at-bat,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Obviously (Higashioka has) lost some playing time here of late, but, you know, another guy who’s just a pro. Ready to go. … Excited for him and happy we could pull one out on our way to Boston.”

The Red Sox ended a four-game losing streak by beating Baltimore 7-3 Sunday. Rookie Triston Casas hit a three-run home run — his 24th homer of the season — in the victory.

“Just happy to get a pitch over the middle of the plate to hit,” Casas said. “There were a lot of positives to take out of (Sunday’s win) — and this whole series. It’s really satisfying to at least salvage (one victory in) the series. We know that they didn’t play their best game. They made a couple key errors in some big situations that really could have put the game away, but that’s baseball. We were able to capitalize on those mistakes and come out with a win.”

The Yankees will send right-hander Clarke Schmidt (9-8, 4.54 ERA) to the mound for Monday’s game. Righty Kutter Crawford (6-7, 4.36) is Boston’s probable starter.

Schmidt had gone four appearances without a victory until he earned the win for throwing 6 1/3 innings during Wednesday’s 4-3 victory over Detroit. Schmidt allowed three runs on five hits, struck out six and had no walks. He retired 16 consecutive batters at one point.

Schmidt’s season got off to a rough beginning, as he had a 6.30 ERA though his first nine starts.

“On the whole, he’s just gotten to be a much better pitcher, more polished pitcher,” Boone said. “I think he’s proven that he can be a starter in this league. I think he’s really got a grasp of his arsenal and how to use it and when to use it.

“I think he’s really learned a lot from his experiences from start to start. … Certainly took his lumps the first month or so of the season, but learned a lot from that.”

Schmidt is 0-1 with a 4.03 ERA in seven career appearances (three starts) against the Red Sox. He’s surrendered five home runs in 22 1/3 innings against them.

Crawford is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA in his career against the Yankees. He’s made five appearances against the Yankees (three starts) and has 19 strikeouts in 19 innings.

Crawford struggled with his command in Tuesday’s 8-6 loss to Tampa Bay. He gave up five runs on three hits, walked four and struck out five in 3 2/3 innings. Crawford has allowed 11 runs in his last two outings (6 1/3 innings).

The Red Sox are 2-7 in their last nine home games.

–Field Level Media

Orioles Overpower Red Sox, 13-12

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Baltimore catcher James McCann hit two home runs to help the visiting Orioles stretch their winning streak to seven games by beating the Boston Red Sox 13-12 on Saturday. McCann belted a two-run home run in the fourth inning and hit a solo shot in the sixth. The homers were his fifth and sixth of the season.

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Justin Turner

Aaron Hicks hit his eighth homer, Jordan Westburg added his third and Gunnar Henderson belted his 24th for the Orioles (90-51), who maintained a four-game lead over Tampa Bay at the top of the American League East standings. Tampa Bay defeated Seattle 7-5 on Saturday.

Baltimore’s seven consecutive victories have all come on the road.

The Red Sox scored three runs against Yennier Cano in the bottom of the ninth but stranded the tying run on third base.

Shintaro Fujinami (7-8) earned the win after pitching 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Boston (72-70) has lost four in a row overall and has dropped its last six home games. Wilyer Abreu collected five of Boston’s 23 hits in the loss.

It was 2-2 in the top of the third when Hicks hit a three-run home run against Boston starting pitcher Chris Sale (6-4), who allowed seven runs (six earned) in four innings. Earlier in the third, Jorge Mateo scored Baltimore’s second run on an Anthony Santander double.

McCann followed with the first of his two homers, which extended Baltimore’s lead to 7-2 in the fourth inning.

Justin Turner’s 23rd home run handed the Red Sox a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the Orioles sliced that deficit in half in the second when Hicks scored on Trevor Story’s throwing error.

Boston added four runs in the fourth. Connor Wong got things going with an RBI single before Alex Verdugo hit a sacrifice fly that drove in Enmanuel Valdez. Wong scored on Henderson’s fielding error, and Rafael Devers made it 7-6 when he scored on a Triston Casas groundout.

Westburg and McCann added solo home runs in the sixth to extend the lead to 9-6, and Henderson’s three-run homer in the seventh pushed the lead to 12-6.

Boston answered with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Abreu hit a two-run double and then scored on a Devers single.

Ramon Urias drove in Austin Hays with a single in the ninth to give Baltimore a 13-9 lead before Story’s two-run double and Abreu’s RBI single pulled Boston within a run in the bottom of the inning.

–Field Level Media

Orioles Pummel Red Sox

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Baltimore Orioles can stretch their winning streak to seven games on Saturday when they face the host Boston Red Sox in the second game of a three-game series.

All six of Baltimore’s previous wins in the burst have come on their current road trip. After a loss to Arizona to begin the trek, the Orioles (89-51) took the final two from the Diamondbacks and then swept three against the Los Angeles Angels. On Friday, they pummeled Boston 11-2.

Baltimore, which collected 14 hits on Friday, enters Saturday’s matchup with a four-game lead over second-place Tampa Bay in the American League East.

Boston (72-69) has lost three in a row overall five straight home games.

“We’re not here to teach them how to play ball. We’re here to win games,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We just have to keep playing hard, and we’ll be OK.”

Prior to the series against Boston, Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde announced that the Orioles are returning to a five-man pitching rotation. The Orioles have been using six starters since mid-August.

Hyde said Cole Irvin would shift from a starter into long relief, but added that the plan to go with five starters could change after the weekend.

“We’re looking ahead with our rotation,” Hyde said. “You try to give yourself the best opportunity (to win). When the season is coming to an end, for the last 20-plus games, you start looking ahead a little bit and try to line guys up the best you can.”

Starting pitcher John Means could factor into the team’s pitching plans. Means, who had Tommy John surgery in April 2022, made what is expected to be his final rehab assignment Wednesday, when he pitched five innings for Triple-A Norfolk.

Right-hander Jack Flaherty (8-8, 4.84 ERA) is Baltimore’s scheduled starter for Saturday. The Orioles acquired Flaherty, 27, from the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline on Aug. 1. Flaherty was 7-6 with a 4.43 ERA in 20 starts this season with the Cardinals, and is 1-2 with a 6.66 ERA in five starts with the Orioles.

Flaherty, who will be a free agent after the season, allowed four runs on six hits, including two home runs, in Baltimore’s 8-5 victory over Arizona on Sunday. He struck out seven and walked one. This will be the first time Flaherty has faced the Red Sox.

Boston is expected to start lefty Chris Sale (6-3, 4.46). Sale’s velocity has been down since he returned from a stress reaction in his left shoulder blade that was diagnosed following his first start in June, but he tossed five scoreless innings in Boston’s 7-3 win against Kansas City on Sunday. Sale surrendered two hits, struck out five and walked two.

Sale is 10-4 with a 3.46 ERA in 25 career appearances (19 starts) against Baltimore.

The Orioles have won four of their seven meetings with the Red Sox this season.

–Field Level Media

NFL

Streaking Orioles Visit Fenway

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report – The Baltimore Orioles will look to extend their five-game road winning streak when they open a three-game series against the Red Sox tonight.

It’s the start of a seven-game homestand for Boston (72-68), which has lost two in a row and will need a strong September to have any chance of securing an American League wild-card berth. The Red Sox have 22 games remaining, and nine of their next 13 games will be against teams ahead of them in the standings.

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“We’re going home now, and if we want to gain ground we have a chance now,” Boston manager Alex Cora said following Wednesday’s 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay. “We have the best team in the American League coming up and then we have the Yankees (at home), then Toronto, Texas. This week is going to be huge for us.”

The Orioles (88-51), who lead the American League East, finished a three-game sweep of Anaheim with a 10-3 victory on Wednesday night. Outfielder Austin Hays went 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs in the win.

“He’s just driving the baseball, getting huge hits for us, plays Gold Glove defense every night in left field,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said. “Had an outstanding game offensively (Wednesday night). He shows up to play hard every day.”

Baltimore owns the best road record in the American League (46-25).

“We came here with the goal of winning the series and we did that in the first two games so coming out (Wednesday) and scoring 10 runs, that was huge,” Hays said. “It’s good to rest up on this cross-country flight and we’ll keep this thing rolling in Boston.”

The Red Sox, who have lost four in a row at home, struck out 17 times during Wednesday’s loss to the Rays, and struck out 47 times in the three-game series. One of Boston’s few offensive highlights Wednesday came from rookie first baseman Triston Casas, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games when he singled in the ninth.

Boston will send right-hander Tanner Houck (4-8, 5.07 ERA) to the mound Friday night. Houck allowed four earned runs on seven hits in five innings in Boston’s 9-5 victory over Kansas City on Saturday. He struck out five and walked one.

Houck is 3-2 with a 3.28 ERA in seven career appearances (three starts) against Baltimore. He has 25 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings.

Righty Kyle Bradish (10-6, 3.03 ERA) is expected to start for the Orioles. He limited Arizona to two runs on four hits in six innings during Baltimore’s 7-3 triumph Saturday. Bradish, however, hasn’t fared well against the Red Sox during his career. He’s 0-4 with a 9.36 ERA in six appearances (all starts).

Outfielder Alex Verdugo has missed Boston’s past three games because of a tight left hamstring, but Cora said he could be in the lineup Friday.

“Every series is important right now,” Hyde said. “Doesn’t matter who we play, every series is important. We only have 20-something games to go and they all mean something.”

–Field Level Media

Glasnow Mows Down Red Sox

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TAMPA – ST PETE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Tamps starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow matched his career high with 14 strikeouts as the Tampa Bay Rays topped the Boston Red Sox 3-1 on Wednesday in the rubber game of a three-game series.

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Across six innings in a 103-pitch outing, Glasnow (8-5) yielded one run on three hits and one walk.

The 6-foot-8 right-hander rounded out his start by fanning six consecutive batters in the fifth and sixth innings. Glasnow’s only previous 14-K game came against the Texas Rangers on April 12, 2021.

Brandon Lowe and Isaac Paredes both homered and Harold Ramirez doubled home a run as Tampa Bay (85-55) improved to 9-2 this season against the Red Sox (72-68).

Pete Fairbanks struck out two in a scoreless ninth for his 20th save in 22 chances.

The Rays added to their sterling home record against Boston, beating their division rival for the 15th time in the past 16 matchups in the dome.

For the Red Sox, Connor Wong had an RBI triple, but the visitors produced only five hits and fanned 17 times, including seven straight midgame.

Injured on Sunday, Boston outfielder Alex Verdugo (left hamstring tightness) did not play and missed the entire series.

In the third inning, Boston went up 1-0 with no outs on Wong’s triple, a high shot into the right field corner that plated Enmanuel Valdez, who had singled.

Glasnow, who had recorded five strikeouts in the first two frames, left Wong stranded at third after a diving stop by shortstop Osleivis Basabe was surrounded by Wilyer Abreu and Justin Turner both looking at third strikes.

Lowe, the hero on Tuesday with a walk-off homer in a 8-6, 11-inning win, went deep on a four-seam fastball from Nick Pivetta (9-8) with two outs in the bottom of the first on Wednesday.

He ripped his game-tying 19th long ball out to right-center at 109.2 mph at 416 feet, giving him 18 homers in 53 career games against Boston.

Paredes took Pivetta deep with two outs in the fourth, hammering a 3-2 four-seamer for his 28th homer and 87th RBI for a 2-1 lead.

The Rays made Pivetta pay for wildness in the fifth. After two walks, Ramirez’s two-out double off the center field wall sent home Yandy Diaz and chased Pivetta after 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander yielded three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Can’t Catch a Break

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TAMPA – ST. PETE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – As Tampa Bay prepares to conclude a three-game series with the Boston Red Sox, there is a good chance a lot of momentum will be on the Rays’ side in the Wednesday night finale at Tampa Bay.

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On Tuesday night, the Rays fought back for a dramatic win when Brandon Lowe swatted a three-run homer to beat Boston 8-6 in 11 innings.

Tampa Bay (84-55) almost got the win in the 10th — then it almost didn’t happen at all.

With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th, Josh Lowe, representing the potential winning run, was doubled up at home on Christian Bethancourt’s fly to right. Adam Duvall’s throw was up the third base line but in time enough for catcher Connor Wong to tag the speedy Lowe.

The Red Sox (72-67) took a one-run lead into the bottom of the 11th when Luis Urias dropped a flare into right over the Rays’ drawn-in infield. Brandon Lowe appeared to catch the ball, bobbled it and saw it fall to the ground as Rob Refsnyder came home with the go-ahead run.

Though Urias was credited with a hit, Brandon Lowe atoned for his inability to make the play by crushing his game-winning homer to right off Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen after Yandy Diaz walked.

“It felt great, honestly, with us being up early and kind of playing some shoddy defense there in that inning,” said Lowe, who also made an error at second base in the seventh when Boston scored twice to tie it at 5. “I guarantee you half of our infield and some of our other guys felt horrible.

“Feeling that off (homer) the bat kind of relieved all that pressure from the stank of that inning.”

The Red Sox saw their three-game winning streak end and failed to clinch the series. They will try again on Wednesday, likely with outfielder Alex Verdugo (left hamstring tightness) on the bench.

“He’s doing OK,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “We’ll take it day by day, obviously. Playing here (on artificial turf) doesn’t help, obviously. We’ll see how he responds to treatment.”

Cora did not rule out the availability of Verdugo for the series finale but stressed that a return later in the week was more realistic.

“Maybe Wednesday, and then hopefully, he can get better throughout the week and be ready for Friday,” Cora said.

The left-handed-hitting Verdugo is batting .278 with 13 homers and 53 RBIs in 124 games.

On Wednesday, Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow (7-5, 3.17 ERA) will make his 10th career appearance (all starts) against the Red Sox. He look to improve on his 2-1 record and 3.59 ERA vs. Boston. Glasnow got a no-decision against the Red Sox on June 3 after giving up one run in 5 1/3 innings.

Boston has hit .215 against the Newhall, Calif., native and stolen 12 bases — the most by any team against him.

The Red Sox will send out Nick Pivetta (9-7, 4.49 ERA) in an effort to leave the Sunshine State with a series-clinching victory.

In 10 career appearances (nine starts) against the Rays, the right-hander is 1-5 with a 4.44 ERA and a .214 opponents’ batting average. He has no decisions and a 1.59 ERA in two games (one start) vs. Tampa Bay this year.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Win On the Road

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TAMPA-ST. PETE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – In their longshot push for a wild-card spot, the Boston Red Sox did something Monday afternoon they have not been able to accomplish in more than a year — win on the road against the Tampa Bay Rays.

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Having snapped a 13-game losing streak at the dome with a 7-3 win in the series opener, Boston will try to clinch the three-game set Tuesday night in its second matchup with the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Desperately needing a victory, Boston (72-66) got a career-high four-RBI game from Triston Casas and a strong start from Brayan Bello to win for the third consecutive outing and first time in the bayside ballpark since April 22, 2022.

“I think he’s going to keep hitting fourth in this lineup,” Boston manager Alex Cora said after Casas produced a two-hit game that included a 419-foot homer — his 23rd — to put Boston up for good in the sixth inning.

The Rays (83-55) started fast with three runs on three hits in the first inning, but they managed only two more hits over the next eight frames.

Regular Tampa Bay starters Yandy Diaz, Isaac Paredes and Jose Siri were given the day off, but manager Kevin Cash gave credit to Bello for shutting down his squad. The Red Sox right-hander gave up three runs and struck out seven in six innings.

“We had good at-bats early on, but I felt like Bello settled in,” said Cash, whose club is 7-2 against the Red Sox this year. “He threw a good ballgame. He had a lot of late movement between the sinker and changeup going in one direction and the big sweeping slider going in the other direction. He made it tough for us.”

The pitching matchup Tuesday night will feature a pair of native Floridians, Boston’s Kutter Crawford and Tampa Bay’s Zach Eflin.

A product of the lakeside town of Okeechobee, Crawford (6-7, 4.08 ERA) will appear in his 27th game and make his 19th start of the year.

The right-hander surrendered six runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings and absorbed a 7-4 loss to the Houston Astros on Wednesday.

Before the start, Cora said Crawford had progressed tremendously from 2022 (3-6, 5.47 in 21 games).

“Since day one, he’s been one of our best pitchers,” the manager said. “Whenever he pitches, he gives us a chance to win. He’s grown so much from last year.”

Crawford is 1-0 with a 2.21 ERA in five appearances (two starts) against the Rays, 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two games (one start) this year.

Eflin (13-8, 3.40 ERA) went 2-2 in August with his best monthly ERA this season — 2.62 — but had tough no-decisions against the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins.

In those two starts, the Orlando native allowed a total of one run and nine hits in 13 1/3 innings — a 0.68 ERA.

Tied for the AL lead in victories (13) with Toronto’s Chris Bassitt and Baltimore’s Kyle Gibson, Eflin also has two no-decisions in his pair of career starts against Boston to go along with a 7.00 ERA over nine innings. Both of those outings occurred in 2020.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Top Royals; Sale Wins

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KANSAS CITY – Boston’s Masataka Yoshida and Adam Duvall homered, and starting pitcher Chris Sale earned his first win since May, leading the Red Sox past the host Kansas City Royals, 7-3, on Sunday in the rubber game of the three-game series.

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Yoshida’s two-out, three-run fly barely cleared the right-center field wall for his 14th home run and a 3-0 advantage in the fourth inning. The rookie had two of the Red Sox’s nine hits, his 46th multi-hit game.

Sale (6-3) allowed two singles and two walks, striking out five while permitting just one runner past first base to collect his first win since May 26 and 13th against the Royals, his most against any opponent.

Duvall’s 416-foot solo blast to left, his 19th homer, improved Boston’s lead to 4-0 in the sixth. Duvall has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games, batting .408 with eight home runs and 16 RBIs.

Salvador Perez got Kansas City on the scoreboard with an RBI single off reliever Mauricio Llovera in the sixth, cutting the deficit to 4-1. Perez had two of the Royals’ eight hits.

Red Sox right fielder Alex Verdugo was seen limping after fielding Perez’s hit and left the game one batter later. Per the Boston Globe, Verdugo is battling a tight left hamstring.

Bobby Witt Jr.’s seventh-inning throwing error led to a pair of Red Sox runs as Justin Turner delivered a sacrifice fly for a 6-1 lead. Rafael Devers’ two-out RBI double in the ninth capped Boston’s scoring.

Dairon Blanco’s two-run single in the ninth off Kenley Jansen capped the scoring.

After opener Taylor Clarke retired the Red Sox in order in the first, Zack Greinke (1-14) went 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk. Greinke has not won since May 3.

Boston (71-66), which has lost five of seven, earned its first series win since a three-game sweep at the New York Yankees Aug. 18-20.

The Royals are 6-21 since their season-long seven-game winning streak ended Aug. 4, falling to 42-96 and dropping 54 games below .500 for the first time in franchise history.

–Field Level Media

Sox Season of 2023: “Swept Away”

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Houston Astros capped their first-ever series sweep at Fenway Park with a 7-4 win over the host Boston Red Sox Wednesday afternoon.

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Houston’s Jeremy Pena hit a double and a triple, scored two runs and drove in another to pace the Astros, which scored three runs in both the second and third innings, added another in the fourth and held on for its fifth consecutive victory. Houston’s Michael Brantley, just off the 60-day IL, had two hits, two RBIs and a run, while Alex Bregman and Martin Maldonado each added two hits and an RBI.

Astros starter Framber Valdez (10-9) struck out five across six innings of five-hit ball. He allowed four runs (two earned). Ryan Pressly threw a scoreless ninth to notch his 29th save. Red Sox starter Kutter Crawford (6-7) was tagged for six runs on seven hits across 2 2/3 innings.