It certainly didn’t look good early on for Royals starter Luke Hochevar. He got touched for four runs in the first three innings, but the bats rallied to come back and beat Boston 8-6 Thursday night at Fenway.
The Red Sox used a two run homer from Big Papi in the first inning and a solo shot from Dustin Pedroia, the AL starting second basemen, in the third to build a 4-0 lead.
The Royals came back in the fourth to close the lead to 4-3. Jose Guillen and Mark Teahen singled and Teahen stole second to give the Royals first and third with one out. Miguel Olivo singled to score Guillen and then stole second with Teahen on third, who scored after a bad throw from catcher Jason Varitek. Olivo went to third and then scored on Alberto Callaspo’s double.
The Sox added a run in the bottom of the fifth, but Teahen, who went 3 for 5, doubled off reliever Manny Delcarmen to lead off the sixth. After Delcarmen got two ground outs to third, Callaspo doubled again bringing Teahen. Ryan Freel then blooped a single off Justin Masterston and David DeJesus homered to give the Royals a 7-5 lead.
Each team would add a late run. Hochever, despite giving up five runs got the win to move to 5-3. Joakim Soria picked up his 14 th save.