He retired the next nine and didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning.
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A 23-year-old lefty who is one of Boston’s top pitching prospects, Owens (2-1) made his fourth career start since being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket on August 4.
Kansas City will attempt to earn a split in its four-game series with Boston in Sunday’s finale.
“Because we’re not eliminated and I believe in these guys”, Lovullo said. “He makes quality pitches when he needs to”.
He once traded away Randy Johnson: Seen as an even trade at the time, Dombrowski’s trade of a young Randy Johnson from Montreal to Seattle for pitcher Mark Langston stands out in hindsight.
Alcides Escobar had a solo homer for the Royals, who lost their second straight after a five-game winning streak.
Mike Napoli #25 of the Texas Rangers hits a two run homer in the second inning as Jarrod Saltalamacchia #39 of the Boston Red Sox catches on April 17, 2012 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. But lately, if you find yourself watching these Red Sox and thinking that there’s a good 2016 team somewhere in there, you’re not alone.
“They just beat me”, Cueto said.
Red Sox: Righty Matt Barnes makes his second start on Saturday after giving up six hits and six runs over five innings last time out against the Indians. Anxious to halt the losing streak at two and ruin the evening of every Red Sox (56-67) fan on the planet – and they are legion (just ask KofK’s own David Hill) – the Royals kicked things off (go Chiefs) with one of their patented two-out rallies in the first inning.
Randal Grichuk hit a three-run homer to cap a six-run fifth inning, and Lance Lynn pitched St. Louis past Milwaukee. The Royals also committed two errors, which led to another run.
Amid a stretch run in which the Red Sox are making evaluations for the future, nights like Friday are the most gratifying.
Blake Swihart had four hits and drove in two runs and Mookie Betts had a double and two singles for the Red Sox, who improved to 10-2 against the Royals in the last two seasons. Cueto told reporters today he would definitely be interesting in signing with Boston once his contract runs out this season. Barnes was 2-3 with a 5.64 ERA in 21 relief appearances with the Red Sox this season and struck out 29 in 27 1/3 overall innings in 2015.
When starting pitcher Wade Miley trots out to the mound, there is never a concrete prediction as to how he will perform on that given night.
“I felt like I’ve done it a few times”, Bradley said about transferring his minor league success to the majors. Boston had won four of the five meetings this season, and 10 of 12 since the start of 2014.
Royals: 2B Omar Infante returned to the lineup after missing three straight games with back spasms.
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The Red Sox are 5-2 under bench coach Torey Lovullo, who took over last week when manager John Farrell announced that is being treated for cancer.
