Salvador Perez got the Royals an early lead against Connelly Early by pulling the ball straight down the left field line and into the seats. Exiting the first, Kansas City was up 1 to 0.
That lead did not last long. The top of the second was a long one for Michael Wacha. A leadoff triple led to an error by Nick Loftin who was looking to see if Willson Contreras was going home rather than scooping up out one. Willson was not headed home though, so it was first and third with no outs. Nick Sogard was up next and hit a single to right to score the first run of the inning and that was followed by a Marcelo Mayer walk. The bases loaded, one run already in, and no outs yet recorded. This could have been a very bad inning, but the next play was hit to Maikel Garcia who stepped on third and threw to first for a double play, though he did have to concede the second run of the inning. Isiah Kiner-Falefa lined out to end the jam with Boston now in front 2-1.
The game then settled in as both teams would get a runner here and there, but no one could break through. Wacha ended up with a really nice outing, finishing with a line of 6IP, 6H, 2BB, 2R, 1ER, and 8Ks. It was his highest strikeout total so far in 2026. He even left in line for the lead thanks to Elias Diaz who decided to swing at the first pitch he saw in his 5th inning plate appearance.
That ball left in a hurry and scored Starling Marte who had led off the inning with a walk.
Stephen Cruz took over in the top of the 7th and gave up a single to start the inning. Boston pinch hit with Mickey Gasper who struck out, and then Jarren Duran went yard for the second night in a row. The Royals had led by one twice and now Boston had their second one-run lead. Daniel Lynch ended up coming in and finishing off the inning and then shared the 8th with Alex Lange who also took care of the 9th.
Bottom of the ninth in a save situation meant Aroldis Chapman was coming in to finish the game for Boston. It started with a weak pop-up by Starling Marte, but it was just far enough up the first base line that Contreras could not get to it. Carter Jensen, who had pinch run for Diaz earlier and stayed in the game, then struck out on a check swing where the ball got passed the catcher and moved Marte to second. Royals had the tying run 180 feet away. And that was a close as they would get. Lane Thomas pops up and Garcia grounds out to end it.
Seattle will be in town tomorrow and they will try again, but the struggles are really starting to make it feel like the time is running out.
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