The rain, the fog, the knuckleball. It all looked like a deadly combination for the Royals Monday night, but they never quit after falling behind 6-0 and come back to beat the Wild Card leading Red Sox, 12-9.
Royals’ starting pitcher Lenny DiNardo got roughed up for eight runs in five innings, including six in the third inning. Half of those came when Jason Bay hit his 36 th of the year for a three run shot.
The Royals didn’t panic. They picked up a run in the third on three walks and a passed ball. In the fourth, catcher Miguel Olivo singled and stole second off knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, then went to third on a wild throw from catcher Victor Martinez. Olivo scored on an Alex Gordon single. A double play ended the Royals chance for more runs.
Down 8-2, the Royals drew two more walks with one out in the bottom of the fifth, before Mike Jacobs launched his 18 th homer of the year. All of the sudden the Royals were back in the game.
Down 9-5 in the bottom of the sixth, the Royals went off with six runs off Manny Delcarmen and Daniel Bard. It all came with two outs. After a leadoff double by Josh Anderson, he was on third with two outs when six straight Royals reached base. The Royals took the lead and the bullpen shut Boston down the final three innings.
Yasuhiko Yabuta who gave up the Sox final run and has an ERA over 14, got the win, while Joakim Soria picked up his 27 th save.
