KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — David Price did exactly what the Boston Red Sox expected when they signed him to a $217 million deal.
The big left-hander dominated the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night, and with help from home runs by Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts, led the Red Sox to a 5-2 victory and a split of their day-night doubleheader.
“He was very good,” said Red Sox manager John Farrell, who was happy to escape Kansas City with a win after dropping the first two games of the series. “He was really commanding all of his pitches.”
The Royals won the opener 3-2 on Wednesday behind strong performances by their pitchers, but it was Price (6-1) who shined in the nightcap, allowing two runs over 7 1/3 innings in his second straight solid start.
He began his Red Sox tenure by allowing at least five runs in four of his first seven starts.
“Price was really good, good cutters, good fastballs, threw some really good change-ups,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. That’s a tough club. They were extremely hot coming in here.”
The Red Sox were clinging to a 2-1 lead when they loaded the bases off Edinson Volquez (4-4) with two outs in the sixth inning. Christian Vazquez dribbled a single up the middle to score two runs, giving the Red Sox plenty of cushion the way their left-hander was pitching.
Volquez left after the sixth. He allowed four runs, seven hits and four walks.
In the opener, Eric Hosmer followed a single by Alcides Escobar with a homer in the first inning, and Lorenzo Cain added a sacrifice fly following Jarrod Dyson’s triple to provide the Royals’ only offense.
Ian Kennedy allowed two runs, six hits and a walk over 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine, before Brian Flynn — who earned his first career win — and Luke Hochevar combined to strike out four consecutive batters.
Kelvin Herrera allowed back-to-back base hits in the eighth, but Xander Bogaerts was thrown out by Dyson from right field trying to reach third base. Travis Shaw flied out to end the inning.
Wade Davis worked around a single in ninth for his ninth save.
“We kept coming at guys. We kept digging,” Farrell said between games. “We kept fighting, trying to create some opportunities, right through the last pitch.”
Steven Wright (3-4) surrendered five hits without a walk in a complete game for Boston.
The knuckleballer set down 10 straight at one point, but the two extra-base hits came back to haunt him. Still, it was a nice rebound after allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings against Houston in his last start.
“He had really good stuff,” Cain said.
Chris Young homered in the fifth for the Red Sox. David Ortiz drove in their other run.
“I think every pitcher’s goal is to go deep into the game. I think it was more crucial today, knowing we’ve got a doubleheader,” Wright said. “It (stinks) we got the loss. I felt like I threw the ball well.”
GOING STREAKING
Bradley extended his hitting streak to 24 games, the longest by a Red Sox player since Ortiz went 27 games in 2012-13. … Bogaerts has hit in 13 consecutive games. … The Red Sox have homered in 19 straight games, matching the longest streak in franchise history. That mark was set in July 1996.
ROSTER MOVE
Between games, the Royals called up INF/OF Whit Merrifield and optioned INF Christian Colon to Triple-A Omaha. Merrifield started Game 2 in left field and had his first hit in the fifth inning. They also added RHP Alec Mills as their 26th man, and he made his big-league debut, allowing a run in the eighth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: RHP Carson Smith (right flexor strain) may return to the DL, Farrell said. Smith is still feeling forearm pain since returning from the DL on May 3.
Royals: RHP Chris Young (right forearm strain) is throwing from 60 feet but has yet to pitch from a mound. … 3B Mike Moustakas (left thumb fracture) was the DH and went 2 for 4 with an RBI in his first rehab game Wednesday at Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He could rejoin the Royals this weekend in Chicago.
UP NEXT
Boston heads home to begin a three-game set against Cleveland and the Royals visit the White Sox for three games. Both series begin Friday night.
— Associated Press —
The No. 12 ranked Northwest Missouri State University men’s tennis team fell to No. 1 Saint Leo, 5-0, at the Gates Tennis Center in Denver, Colo.
