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Royals outlast Red Sox in 14 innings

Jul 26, 2011 - 6:43 AM Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Mike Aviles dropped down a sacrifice bunt in the top of the 14th inning to knock in the winning run, sending the Kansas City Royals past the Boston Red Sox, 3-1, in a marathon at Fenway Park in the opener of a four-game series.

Alcides Escobar lofted a sacrifice fly to center to plate an insurance run for Kansas City.

Louis Coleman (1-2) worked two innings in relief to earn his first career win while Joakim Soria worked around a leadoff double to earn his 18th save of the season and 150th of his career.

Eric Hosmer went 3-for-5 with a double, while Melky Cabrera collected four hits for the Royals, who have won five of their past six games.

"This is a long day. We're all tired but it's good to get this victory," Hosmer said.

Boston had plenty of chances to win the game, putting the potential winning run at third base in the ninth, 12th and 13th innings, but were unable to cash in on its opportunities.

Josh Reddick knocked in the only run of the game for the Red Sox with a double way back in the second inning.

Randy Williams (0-1) gave up two runs in two innings to absorb the loss.

Dustin Pedroia extended his hitting streak to 22 games for the Red Sox, who had a four-game winning streak broken. They had won nine in a row at Fenway Park.

The teams played nearly 4 1/2 hours after rain delayed the start of the game for 2 hours, 21 minutes. It didn't end until close to 2 a.m. (et).

Hosmer led off the 14th inning with a double down the line in left and Jeff Francoeur followed with a single up the middle to give the Royals runners on the corners with no outs. Aviles dropped a sacrifice bunt with the ball bounding over the head of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to score Hosmer. Francoeur advanced to third on a single by Brayan Pena and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Escobar.

"The play we don't practice much, first and third and the runner breaks, the bunter bunts it over the first baseman's head," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "We finally had an opportunity to try it and it worked pretty good."

The Red Sox had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth when Yamaico Navarro ripped a one-out single and David Ortiz beat-out an infield single to put runners on first and second. Boston was unable to cash in however, as Carl Crawford struck out and Reddick flew out to end the inning.

Boston had another opportunity to win the game in the 12th. Reddick led off the inning with a single to center, and after Jarrod Saltalamacchia flied to left, Coleman botched a routine pickoff throw to first which allowed Reddick to advance all the way to third. With the winning run 90 feet away and Marco Scutaro at the plate, Boston elected to go for a suicide squeeze. Scutaro though, missed the sign from his third base coach and Reddick was tagged out in a rundown. Ironically, Scutaro smacked a single on the next pitch which would have won it for the Red Sox. Scutaro was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double.

"We just missed the sign," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "We thought it was a good opportunity. We got half of it right. We didn't get the whole thing right. Red (Reddick) got it, Scut (Scutaro) didn't."

Boston yet again had a chance to win it in the 13th when Jacoby Ellsbury walked and Gonzalez singled to right to put runners on the corners with one down. Navarro fouled out to first and Ortiz lined out to second to send the game to the 14th inning.

Earlier, the Red Sox opened the scoring in the second. Ortiz drew a one-out walk and was erased on a fielder's choice by Crawford. Crawford then swiped second and scored on a double by Reddick.

Kansas City tied the game in the sixth when Cabrera singled to lead off the inning and came around to score on a double by Billy Butler.

The Royals got a runner into scoring position with two outs in the eighth against reliever Daniel Bard. Bard got Hosmer to ground out to end the inning though, keeping the game deadlocked.

Prior to Monday's game, Red Sox starter Jon Lester was activated from the 15- day disabled list. He went 5 1/3 innings, giving up one run on seven hits in his first start since being placed on the DL on July 6 due to a left latissimus strain.

"Felt like I hadn't pitched in two weeks. As far as the lat goes, I was fine. No pain, it was normal," Lester said.

Game Notes

This was Cabrera's second four hit game of the season...Soria became the 13th active player to reach 150...Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis left the game in the eighth inning with right hamstring tightness...KC starter Kyle Davies gave up one run on five hits over six innings...Bard has held opponents scoreless in 25 innings over his last 24 games.