Rookie lefthander Kason Gabbard went the distance, pitching a 3 hitter as the Boston Red Sox shut out the Kansas City Royals 4-0 in the opening game of a three game series Monday night at Fenway Park in Boston.
All BoSox runs were scored on homers. Dustin Pedroia and Manny Ramirez hit solo shots, while David Ortiz launched a 2-run blast.
Gabbard (3-0) struck out 8 batters on the way to the win. Kansas City starter Brian Bannister (5-6) pitched 6 innings, giving up 4 earned runs on 5 hits to take the loss.
The Royals (39-53) and the Red Sox (56-36) play again Tuesday night in Boston. Leo Nunez (0-0) makes his 2007 debut on the mound for the Royals while Tim Wakefield (10-8) pitches for the Sox.