The Red Sox celebrate their 6-3 win over the Royals (photo/MLB)

The Red Sox celebrate their 6-3 win over the Royals (photo/MLB)

Clay Buchholz (8-8) allowed three runs, two earned, over 6.1 innings for the Red Sox to win for the sixth straight time against the Royals in a 6-3 final.  Liam Hendriks (1-2) making a spot start for left-hander Danny Duffy, couldn’t get out of the fourth inning as the defense committed three errors in the loss.  The Royals lead over Detroit is down to a half game.

Boston’s Will Middlebrooks doubled and then scored when Eric Hosmer allowed a two-out grounder by Christian Vazquez to get by him into right field. It was the Gold Glove first baseman’s third error in four games and his 10th of the season.  In the Boston third, after the Royals tied it, Mookie Betts singled, Xander Bogaerts walked, and Yoenis Cespedes was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hendriks walked Napoli to tie the game, and Middlebrooks singled up the middle to give the Red Sox the lead.  They added another run in the fourth, thanks in part to two more errors and Jemile Weeks added a two-run double in the eighth to give Boston a cushion.

Hopefully the pitching staff is closer to getting healthier.  Closer Greg Holland (muscle stiffness) could have been available. Duffy said he hopes to begin throwing in the next couple of days. He is due to start Tuesday against the White Sox.