Royals 1 - 2 Red Sox
Final
  for this game

Red Sox skirt Royals thanks to Napoli blast

Jul 20, 2014 - 3:43 AM Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - Rubby De La Rosa tossed seven stellar innings, while Mike Napoli hit a late go-ahead homer, as Boston claimed a 2-1 victory over Kansas City in the second edition of a three-game series from Fenway Park.

De La Rosa (3-2) gave up five hits and walked four, but allowed one run for the duration of his start. Koji Uehara recorded his 20th save and second in as many nights with a scoreless ninth for the Red Sox, who have won the set thanks to two straight wins, and have taken six of their last seven overall.

"I don't think the Red Sox are ever going to be sellers. We're trying to win games. This thing is a long way from over," said a defiant Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia of his team, which improved to 45-52.

Jarrod Dyson tripled and scored the lone run on an Omar Infante sacrifice fly for the Royals, who have dropped five of six.

Danny Duffy (5-10) left after 6 2/3 frames, charged with one earned run on six hits while issuing three walks.

Napoli's one-out blast to left, which cleared the Green Monster and bounced on the concrete in the parking lot behind it, gave the Sox a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the sixth.

De La Rosa retired the side in order to complete his outing in the seventh, then Andrew Miller mowed through the Royals in turn in the eighth.

Uehara encountered no trouble in the ninth, recording a fly out, strikeout and groundout to preserve the one-run difference.

"When you put up one run, you're not giving yourself a chance to win the game," noted Royals infielder Billy Butler.

The Royals picked up the game's first run in the third, as Dyson tripled to the triangle in center and walked home when Infante followed with a fly to center.

In the home fourth, Napoli singled, Jonny Gomes walked and the former strode home to tie the game when Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar misplayed a Shane Victorino grounder.

Kansas City had runners on first and second in the sixth thanks to a single by Alex Gordon and a two-out walk to Mike Moustakas, but Norichika Aoki grounded out.

Game Notes

According to Elias, each of Boston's last eight home wins have been by one run, the first time the club has seen a stretch like it since 1935 ... Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer extended his career-best hit streak to 15 games with a first-inning single ... Victorino was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the contest and made his first appearance since May 23. Outfielder Mookie Betts was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket to open up a roster spot ... Kansas City fell to 10-20 in one-run outcomes this season.






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