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Guthrie hopes to rebound vs. Boston

Sep 13, 2014 - 1:06 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Jeremy Guthrie tries to bounce back from one of his worst showings of the season on Saturday when the Kansas City Royals continue their four-game set with the Boston Red Sox at Kauffman Stadium.

Guthrie was battered by the Detroit Tigers on Monday to the tune of eight runs (6 earned) and 10 hits in just 2 2/3 innings, as he fell to 10-11 on the year to go along with a 4.54 ERA.

He has now gone three starts without a victory after winning five of six previously.

"Probably too many hittable pitches, that'd be my guess," Guthrie said when asked what happened.

Guthrie's struggles could continue, as he is 3-9 lifetime versus the Red Sox with a 5.06 ERA in 22 games (20 starts).

Kansas City fell out of first place in the American League Central on Friday, as Allen Webster limited the Royals to a pair of runs over six innings, and Boston rolled, 4-2.

The Red Sox, who won 6-3 Thursday night, dropped the Royals into second place in the AL Central, a half-game behind Detroit, which won at home against Cleveland Friday night.

Webster (4-3) had a 9.88 ERA over his previous three starts, but the 24-year- old right-hander gave up just four hits Friday.

Jemile Weeks doubled twice and scored two times for the Red Sox, who entered this series on a four-game losing streak.

Yordano Ventura (12-10) fanned six over seven innings, but he yielded eight hits and four runs -- three earned -- to watch his personal three-game winning stretch come to an end.

Eric Hosmer belted a two-run homer in the fourth inning for the Royals, who suffered their fourth loss in five games.

"I want them to toughen up and get back into first place," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "I want them to look at it and say, 'Let's go. We've got to get ourselves back into first place.'"

On Saturday, Boston will hand the ball to 25-year-old righty Rubby De La Rosa, who has lost his last two decisions and is closing in on his innings limit for the season. He is 4-6 overall on the year with a 4.01 ERA.

He has gone six innings in just one of his last five outings.

Boston has gone 4-1 versus the Royals this season.