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 Weeks doubled twice and scored two runs as the Red Sox beat the
Royals 4-2 on Friday night, knocking the Royals out of first place
in the American League Central for the first time in 31 days.
The Royals' defeat, coupled with the Detroit win over Cleveland,
dropped the Royals a half-game behind the Tigers, the defending
division champions. The Royals have lost five of their last seven
games, scoring 12 runs in the losses.
Rookie right-hander Allen Webster picked up his first victory since
Aug. 14, holding the Royals to four hits and two runs in six
innings.
"Because (he threw) a higher percentage of strikes," Red Sox manager
John Farrell said of Webster's success. "He was ahead frequently and
threw good changeups. Except to (Eric) Hosmer, he was down in the
strike zone."
The Royals are winless in five games against the Red Sox, who are
last in the AL East, hitting .191 (31-for-162) while scoring only 10
runs with nine extra-base hits.
Right fielder Nori Aoki, second baseman Omar Infante, left fielder
Alex Gordon and designated hitter Billy Butler -- the Royals' first
four hitters -- went a combined 0-for-15.
"We're out of first place," Gordon said. "It is what it is. We've
got to grind away, come here tomorrow and get first place back."
The Royals did not have a hit after the fourth inning.
"We know it's an aggressive swinging team and very much a momentum
team," Farrell said. "It's important to have off-speed pitches to
get ahead in the count."
The Red Sox took advantage of third baseman Mike Moustakas' throwing
error and right-hander Yordano Ventura's wild pitch to score three
runs (one unearned) in the third inning. Ventura also hit designated
hitter Daniel Nava with a pitch to contribute to that Boston rally.
With one out, Weeks doubled down the right-field line and scored on
right fielder Mookie Betts' single. Betts wound up scoring on
Moustakas' throwing error on left fielder Yoenis Cespedes' infield
single. Nava scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch when
Cespedes stole second.
"Ventura threw the ball well," Yost said. "He had good velocity on
his fastball. We made a couple of defensive miscues that ended up
costing him some runs."
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Hosmer homered in the fourth inning with Gordon, who had walked,
aboard as the Royals cut the lead to 3-2. It was Hosmer's first home
run since July 10 and his seventh of the season. Hosmer hit a 2-0
Webster offering just over the right-field wall, an estimated 356
feet.
"The biggest part is fighting the frustration," Yost said of his
struggling offense. "You can't allow yourself to get frustrated
because nothing good comes out of that. You still have a strong
belief that they are going to get it turned around because you've
seen them do it on numerous occasions the past three or four years."
Weeks doubled to left to lead off the fifth inning for his third
straight two-bagger and Betts was hit by a pitch. Nova wormed a
single past shortstop Alcides Escobar on an 0-2 count to score
Weeks.
"I got him to supply a lot of the power and stayed in the zone,"
Weeks said. "When guys have stuff like that, you have to stay in the
zone."
NOTES: DH David Ortiz (bruised right foot) and 1B Mike Napoli
(dislocated finger, sore toe) were not in the Red Sox lineup. ...
Royals DH Josh Willingham (groin injury) was unavailable. Butler,
who had not played since Monday, replaced Willingham. ... Royals LHP
Danny Duffy, who was skipped his last start with a sore shoulder,
threw about 30 pitches at 75 feet off a flat surface with no
problems. ... Royals RHP Greg Holland, who had not pitched since
Sept. 3 because of triceps tightness, pitched a scoreless ninth,
striking out the side. . ... RHP Jeremy Guthrie, who gave up eight
runs on 10 hits and a walk in 2 2/3 innings in a loss Monday at
Detroit, will start Saturday against the Red Sox.
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