David Ortiz went 4-for-5 with a season-high five RBI as the Boston Red Sox outlasted the Kansas City Royals, 13-9, in the second contest of a four-game set. Dustin Pedroia added four hits, an RBI and three runs scored, extending his career-high hitting streak to 23 games. He was a home run short of the cycle as Boston improved to 17-4 in the month of July. Alfredo Aceves (6-1) was given the win after 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for starter Andrew Miller. Miller gave up seven runs — five earned — on nine hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings. Royals outfielder Mitch Maier pitched the bottom of the eighth inning with his team trailing 13-7. It was the 10th time in team history Kansas City used a position player as a pitcher and the first since Tony Pena Jr. pitched on July 21, 2008. Maier gave up one hit, a double to Ortiz, but no runs. KC’s Billy Butler also almost hit for the cycle, needing just a triple. He finished the day with three hits, three RBI and two runs scored in the Royals’ second loss in three games. Nathan Adcock (1-1) took the loss, allowing four runs — three earned — in just one-third of an inning of relief. Danny Duffy started the game, but lasted just 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks.

Albert Pujols hit a two-run homer and David Freese added a solo blast to carry the Cardinals past the lowly Astros, 3-1. Jake Westbrook (9-4) started the second meeting of the four-game set and lasted six frames, allowing one run on seven hits to earn the win. Jason Motte, Lance Lynn and Fernando Salas each tossed a scoreless inning of relief, with the latter working around a two-out walk in the ninth to post his 19th save of the season. St. Louis, which has won five of six to stay atop the NL Central, held Houston to a 1-for-11 effort with runners in scoring position. Brett Myers (3-11) dropped his fifth straight decision despite tossing an eight-inning complete game, as he was charged with three runs on 11 hits.