Gil Meche settled down after giving up two runs early to the Boston Red Sox, but the Royals lose 2-1.  Meche went seven innings, allowing two runs, while striking out eight. 

John Buck got the Royals on the board with a two out RBI in the 7 th .  Alex Gordon was 3 for 3 with two doubles, and the greatest chance for the Royals came in the 8 th inning. 

Sox reliever Hideki Okajima, who used to pitch for Royals manager Trey Hillman’s Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan, got wild.  After David DeJesus doubled, Okajima got two outs, but he walked two batters to load the bases. 

"It was a little surreal," Hillman told kcroyals.com . "The last time I saw him pitch, we were winning a championship with him over in Japan in ’06. He gave us a chance."

Red Sox manager Terry Francona brought in closer Jonathan Papelbon and got Billy Butler to strikeout.  Papelbon then finished the 9 th to pick up his 13 th save while striking out three in an inning and a third.