Trio of homers lift Royals to 6-3 win over Red Sox

BOSTON (AP) - Eric Hosmer and Alex Gordon homered, and Ian Kennedy allowed one run through five innings as the Kansas City Royals continued their monthlong hot streak with a 6-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.

Kansas City has won 11 of its last 12 games and is 18-6 in August.

Kennedy (9-9) had a chance set a club record by allowing one or fewer runs in six straight outings of at least six innings. But he left with a runner on after 5 1/3 innings and wound up charged for two earned runs in the game. He finished with nine strikeouts.

Kelvin Herrera earned his 10th save.

Lorenzo Cain added a solo homer in the eighth inning.

Steven Wright (13-6) took the loss in his first game back off the disabled list with a right shoulder strain, giving up five runs and seven hits.

Wright lost despite going at least six innings for the 10th time in 15 starts. Before Friday he had not allowed more than one home run in any of his previous 26 starts, which was the fourth-longest active streak in the majors.

It also had been the longest by a Red Sox pitcher since Pedro Martinez did it over 44 starts.

Mookie Betts had five hits and two RBIs for the Red Sox.

The Royals jumped on Wright at the outset, taking a 5-0 lead in the first inning on a three-run shot by Hosmer, followed quickly by a two-run blast by Gordon.

Boston had three hits and got one run back in its half of first. It had a chance to add more after loading the bases with one out, but the potential rally stalled when Sandy Leon and Jackie Bradley, Jr. both struck out.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Royals: RHP Wade Davis (right flexor strain) is expected to throw for Triple-A Omaha on Saturday, and then possibly again on Monday. Manager Ned Yost said he doesn't anticipate him returning before Sept. 1.

Red Sox: Rookie LF Andrew Benintendi went through another series of tests Friday which reaffirmed the original diagnosis of no structural damage to his sprained left knee. He was hurt during Boston's loss to the Rays Wednesday night when he tried to avoid a tag while running toward second base. Manager John Farrell said he is optimistic about an injury that "could have been much, much worse." Benintendi was walking around the clubhouse with no brace Friday. "Obviously it's something you don't plan on," he said. "It's unfortunate that it happened and I'm just going to try to get as healthy as possible as quickly as I can." ... RHP Koji Uehara, who has been on the DL since July 20 with right pectoral sprain, threw a bullpen session Friday.

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (11-1, 2.66 ERA) will make his 20th start of the season and 100th of his career on Saturday. He earned his 10th straight win in Kansas City's 2-1 win over Minnesota on Sunday, holding the Twins to one run and eight hits. His next strikeout will be the 500th of his career.

Red Sox: LHP David Price (12-8, 4.00) leads the majors with nine starts of at least eight innings this season. His 2.01 career ERA against the Royals is the third-lowest among active pitchers.