KC Royals Give Boston Red Sox Sound Thrashing

Jun 20, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales (25) connects for a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

The Royals (39-26) and Beantowners (30-40) met in game two of a three game series Saturday evening at sweltering Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. The heat and humidity foretold an eventful contest, as the ball tends to start flying in and out of the K in this type of weather. The game did not disappoint.

Sox CF Mookie Betts hit a 2-0 pitch from Royals starter Edinson Volquez out of the park in the first at bat of the game. The Royals tied it the very next inning on a booming solo homer from C Sal Perez. Then gave the lead right back when Boston C Blake Swihart and SS Brock Holt both doubled in the third.

Boston padded their lead to 4-1 in the top of the fifth on four singles and a walk. But KC answered immediately with a big rally of their own in the bottom of the frame: A welcome relief after the club had run themselves out of scoring opportunities with blunders on the basepaths (even though they ended up with four stolen bases on the day).

RP Rick Porcello ($20M+ per season?) began the fifth inning by hitting RF Alex Rios — one of two Royals batters hit on the day — followed by singles from 2B Omar Infante and SS Alcides Escobar, a balk by Porcello, sac fly from 3B Mike Moustakas, infiled single from CF Lorenzo Cain, and a home run from birthday-boy DH Kendrys Morales. All sandwiched around an incredibly awkward-looking throwing error from Boston 3B Pablo Sandoval (he of “Kung Fu Panda” fame) that resulted of his removal from the game for injury to his left ankle.

By the time the dust settled, the Royals led 6-4, and we all know what almost always happens when the Royals get a lead late. “Turn out the lights…the party’s over…” as Dandy Don Meredith used to croon on Monday Night Football back in olden days.

After the Royals padded their lead to 7-4 (the final score) on Moose’s second RBI in the bottom of the sixth, David Ortiz got tossed for complaining about some questionable strike calls from home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman. Ortiz made his exit colorful, pantomiming as if he was throwing Dreckman out, before laughing as he ambled towards the dugout.

It was a heckuva good ballgame, a bit of everything, with a fantastic ending.

Although Volquez was far from his usual sharp self, he kept the damage to four runs in 5.1 innings, and the offense delivered eleven hits, three walks, two HBP, and four stolen bases (three by Cain). Meanwhile Franklin Morales, Ryan Madson, Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, and Greg Holland all made appearances in relief for the Royals, and gave up zero runs – as usual (amazing). Shutdown bullpen indeed.

The rubber game of the series will take place Sunday afternoon. Tune in as wily, cagey old veteran RP Chris Young starts for KC and slings his famous invisiball past bewildered Red Sox batters. That’s my best guess how it’ll play out, anyway.