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Betts, Red Sox top Royals

Jun 20, 2015 - 5:58 AM Kansas City, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Mookie Betts went 4-for-5 with an RBI and the Boston Red Sox defeated the Kansas City Royals 7-3 in the opener of a three-game set.

Hanley Ramirez smacked a solo homer among his two hits and two RBI, while Blake Swihart and Mike Napoli added a pair of hits, two RBI and a run scored apiece for Boston, which has won three of its last four games on the heels of a seven-game losing streak.

"We're looking to build on this momentum and keep it going," Napoli said.

Eduardo Rodriguez (3-1) allowed a run on six hits and a walk over 6 1/3 innings to notch the win.

Eric Hosmer cracked a solo shot among his two hits for the Royals, who had won eight of their last 10 games coming in. Yohan Pino (0-2) surrendered six runs on 11 hits and a walk over 5 1/3 frames.

The Red Sox jumped out to a big lead after plating five runs in the second and another in the fifth.

Xander Bogaerts hit a one-out single, Pablo Sandoval launched a double to center and Bogaerts and Sandoval scored on Napoli's roller up the middle. Alejandro De Aza walked and Swihart ripped a one-hop double to right to plate Napoli and De Aza. Betts' base hit to right brought home Swihart.

"Rough second inning," KC manager Ned Yost said. "It's always tough when you're down five early."

Ramirez's two-out solo shot into the front rows of seats to left-center in the fifth made it 6-0.

KC got on the board in the home half following consecutive doubles from Omar Infante and Alcides Escobar.

Ramirez's RBI single in the seventh extended the margin to 7-1, while Hosmer's blast in the eighth and Mike Moustakas' RBI double in the ninth accounted for the final margin.

Game Notes

The Red Sox were 5-for-13 with runners in scoring position, while KC finished 2-for-8 ... Ramirez's homer was his 14th of the season, while Hosmer's blast was his eighth.