Royals 9, Red Sox 6
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler and Justin Maxwell each collected three hits as the Kansas City Royals beat the Boston Red Sox 9-6 on Friday night.
Hosmer had a two-run single in the Royals' six-run sixth. Maxwell, who homered in the second, had two hits in the inning.
Butler, also, contributed a RBI-double in the inning.
The Royals, who are 17-4 since the All-Star break, trailed 6-3 entering the inning.
After starter Ervin Santana's early exit, four Kansas City relievers combined to shutdown the Red Sox on two hits for 5 1/3 innings. Francisley Bueno picked up the victory, allowing one hit in 2 2/3 innings.
Drake Britton (1-1) was the losing pitcher.
Greg Holland logged his 24th consecutive save, working a flawless ninth, striking out two.
Mike Napoli, who snapped a season-worst five-game hitless streak on Thursday, put the Red Sox up 6-3 in the fourth with a three-run double to center.
After Royals right-hander Ervin Santana retired the first two batters in the fourth, Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz singled and Daniel Nava was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Napoli drilled a 2-1 pitch to deep center to clear the bases and finish Santana's evening.
Santana, who was 3-0 in his previous four starts, gave up six runs, nine hits and two walks and also hit two batters in 3 2/3 innings, his shortest outing of the season.
Nava singled home Shane Victorino in the first inning for the initial Red Sox run. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, also, contributed a run-producing double in the second. Ortiz homered in the third.
Maxwell and Alex Gordon blasted bases-empty home runs for the Royals in the second and third innings. Rookie David Lough's two-out single in the third scored Alcides Escobar with the third Kansas City run.
Jake Peavy, who was making his second Red Sox start since being acquired in a July 30 trade from the Chicago White Sox, gave up three runs and seven hits in the first five innings.
NOTES: Royals OFs Lorenzo Cain and Gordon added a hit before Friday's game. After an appeal, both were awarded hits from last Sunday's game at New York in which Daniel Murphy and Marlon Byrd were originally charged with errors after losing balls in the sun. ... Red Sox RHP Alex Wilson, who went on the disabled list July 9, continues to have problems with his right thumb. "He's having recurring discomfort," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "He'll have to be re-examined by a hand specialist." ... Red Sox CF Jacoby Ellsbury stole his major league-leading 41st base in the second inning.
