Red Sox eager for another big inning vs. Royals
Boston opened the three-game series with an 8-5 victory on Monday. The Red Sox scored five runs in the first inning after scoring six times in the fourth of a 6-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
"We're not chasing as much, we're not striking out," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "We're putting the ball in play. We're running the bases extremely well, too. ... We've been really good the past three weeks baserunning-wise, and that puts pressure on the opposition."
Boston particularly has been tough at home. The Monday victory gave the Red Sox 13 wins in their past 14 games at Fenway Park.
"When we're rolling, this place is another weapon for us, so it's just been awesome to see the fans get behind us and help us with this push," said Boston's Jarren Duran, who hit a three-run homer in the first inning off Royals starter Bailey Falter.
"I think we just have to keep our heads down and keep working, because I feel like that's what we've been doing all year and it's showing."
After Kansas City scored four runs in the eighth to make it an 8-5 game, Nick Loftin ran through a stop sign and was thrown out at the plate for the final out of the inning. Had Loftin stayed at third, the Royals would have had the bases loaded with Vinnie Pasquantino at the plate. Pasquantino homered earlier in the frame.
"I talked to him in the dugout," Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro said of Loftin. "You gotta understand the game situation at that point. He's trying to be aggressive. He probably got a little carried away knowing there were two outs.
"Normally you would take chances with two outs, but when you're down by three and you're getting the go-ahead run to the plate right there, you gotta stay at third. It's a mental mistake and he won't make that again."
Boston won't have outfielder Roman Anthony in the lineup on Tuesday. Anthony was a late scratch Monday due to back tightness, and Cora said he planned to rest the rookie on Tuesday.
"Everything felt normal all day and I felt something as I was stretching on the line," Anthony said. "Just figured we'd be cautious with it and was super uncomfortable. I relayed that quickly, and we decided we were going to shut it down.
"I'll get with the training staff and figure that out, but I'm already definitely trending in the right direction and feeling better than it was earlier."
The Red Sox appear to be in a good position to build on their winning streak since left-hander Garrett Crochet (12-4, 2.23 ERA) -- Boston's ace -- is scheduled to start on Tuesday.
Crochet is 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA in eight career appearances (two starts) against the Royals. He won at Kansas City on May 10 after throwing seven innings of one-run ball and striking out nine.
Rookie right-hander Ryan Bergert (1-0, 2.78) is scheduled to make his Royals debut. Bergert, who was acquired from the San Diego Padres just before the trade deadline last week, will be making his first career appearance against Boston.
Bergert made 11 appearances (seven starts) for the Padres this season, and he recorded 34 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings.
--Field Level Media
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