After a two hour, 21 minute rain delayed the start of the game to nearly 10 o’clock, the Red Sox dropped the opening game of a four-game set with the Kansas City Royals in 14 innings.
Jon Lester returned to the hill for Boston, a welcome sign for all of Red Sox Nation. Lester pitched well, considering it was his first start since July 5th against Toronto. He went 5 1/3 innings (89 pitches), giving up just one run on seven hits and striking out six.
For Kansas City, Kyle Davies got the ball. Davies silenced the Red Sox bats for the most part, striking out six and allowing one run on six hits over six innings of work.
In the second inning, Josh Reddick doubled in Carl Crawford to put the Sox up 1-0.
The visiting Royals were able to tie things up in the sixth when Billy Butler ripped an RBI double down the left field line, scoring Melky Cabrera.
Things would stay tied until the 14th inning, when Mike Aviles hit a sacrifice bunt to give the Royals their first lead of the game. Two batters later, Alcides Escobar followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Credit the Royals bullpen, who combined to throw eight innings of scoreless relief.
With the loss, Boston falls to 62-38 through 100 games, while Kansas City improves to 43-59. The two teams are back at it tomorrow night (a game in which yours truly will be attending) at 7:05 PM. Andrew Miller will take the hill looking to get the Sox back to their winning ways.
