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The Student News Site of University of Central Missouri

Muleskinner

The Student News Site of University of Central Missouri

Muleskinner

Big Papi hits 476th homer, Red Sox rout Royals 13-2

(KANSAS CITY, Mo., AP) — With the Kansas City Royals trailing by a dozen runs entering the ninth inning, manager Ned Yost had a brief conversation with bench coach Don Wakamatsu.

“I told Wak it could be worse,” Yost said. “He looked at me, like how? I told him, we could be getting beat 12-to-nothing and it could be 100 degrees outside.”
After a 102 heat index for the Saturday game, rain cooled off the temperatures to 76 for the start of the Sunday game.
But the Royals could not cool off the hot Boston Red Sox bats, who had 13 extra-base hits, in a 13-2 victory.
David Ortiz passed two Hall of Famers with his 476th home run, while Hanley Ramirez hit his team-best 15th homer and Mookie Betts also went deep for the Red Sox, who set a season high for runs. Xander Bogaerts had three doubles, and Wade Miley (7-6) pitched six scoreless innings.
Bogaerts stroked a three-run double in a five-run fifth when the Red Sox batted around and chased Chris Young (6-3). “I need to be better than I was,” Young said. “I didn’t give the team a chance and it’s disappointing. Over the course of the season, you’re going have a few of them, but it’s not enjoyable by any means. You expect to be at your best every time out, but that’s not the case.
“I tried to keep the team close, but in the fifth I couldn’t do it and that’s the ball game right there.”
Ortiz homered leading off the fourth to move past Stan Musial and Willie Stargell into 28th place on the career home run list.
“I got to meet ‘The Man’ (Musial) one time a long time ago” Ortiz said. “I didn’t get to see him playing, but he was very impressive in his career. When they start mentioning your name next to those all-time Hall of Famers, that’s something that means you’re doing something right. It’s an honor.”
Betts, Brock Holt and Dustin Pedroia, the first three batters in the lineup, each had three of Boston’s 16 hits. They combined to go 9 for 15 with seven runs and six RBIs.
Betts, who missed the cycle by a single, is batting (.556) with nine extra-base hits in a nine-game hitting streak. Boston’s first nine hits were all for extra-bases. The Red Sox had a season-high eight doubles. Miley, who pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, was the beneficiary of the offensive outburst. He limited the Royals to five singles, walked three and struck out two.
“We did have some chances early,” Yost said. “We hit some balls hard, right on the nose and right to their outfielders. We just couldn’t capitalize.”
Young, who had tossed 13 1-3 scoreless innings in winning his previous two starts, yielded seven runs on three homers, four doubles and three walks in 4 2-3 innings.
“I didn’t make enough good pitches,” Young said. “That’s what happens when you face a good team and you’re not at your best.”
Lorenzo Cain’s two-run triple with two outs in the ninth prevented the Royals from being shut out.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: 3B Pablo Sandoval (sprained left ankle) and C Blake Swihart (sprained left foot) were unavailable after getting hurt Saturday. They are day to day. C Ryan Hanigan (broken right hand) begins a rehab assignment Monday with Triple-A Pawtucket. He went on the disabled list May 2. RHP Justin Masterson (right shoulder tendinitis) threw a side session and will not pitch Monday for Pawtucket on a rehab assignment. He could be activated Tuesday.
Royals: LHP Jason Vargas (strained flexor) is playing catch but not throwing off the mound.
UP NEXT:
Red Sox: RHP Joe Kelly, who starts Tuesday night at Fenway Park, is 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts against Baltimore.
Royals: 1B Eric Hosmer is 4 for 9 against Mariners ace Felix Hernandez, who starts Monday night when the Royals open a three-city, 10-day trip in Seattle.
KRATZ CLAIMED
The Red Sox picked up veteran C Erik Kratz off waivers. He was designated for assignment by the Royals on June 11. Kratz, 35, has also played for the Pirates, Phillies and Blue Jays.

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Big Papi hits 476th homer, Red Sox rout Royals 13-2