Jarren Duran clubbed a late three-run homer and Willson Contreras had two hits with three RBIs, as the Boston Red Sox broke out for a 7-1 victory over the host Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.
Duran, who also doubled and walked twice, sent a towering drive inside the right-field foul pole with two on and two out of a 3-1 contest that highlighted a four-run ninth inning for Boston, which has won the first two of the three-game set.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa recorded three of the 15 hits by the Red Sox, who snapped a nine-game stretch of failing to score more than three runs.
Boston starter Ranger Suarez had not allowed a run in his previous three starts, but yielded the only one the Royals scored in the first inning.
The left-hander grinded through 4 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and three walks. Zack Kelly, Tyler Samaniego, Justin Slaten, Garrett Whitlock (3-1) and Jovani Moran combined to yield two hits without a walk over the remaining 4 2/3 innings.
Lane Thomas had two hits with an RBI for Kansas City, which has totaled 25 runs during its ongoing 1-8 rut.
Boston wasted no time in opening the scoring. Against Royals opener Bailey Falter (0-1), Duran walked, stole second and eventually scored from third when Contreras looped a single into left field.
Kansas City, though, answered in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Bobby Witt Jr. singled, stole second and came home off a double from Thomas. That ended Suarez’s scoreless streak at 19 2/3 innings.
The Red Sox went right back ahead in the second. Carlos Narvaez drew a one-out walk, Kiner-Falefa singled and nine-hole hitter Caleb Durbin dropped an RBI single into center field for a 2-1 edge.
Boston loaded the bases with one out in the frame, but failed to add on after Ceddanne Rafaela struck out and Wilyer Abreu flew out to left.
Boston did add to its lead in the eighth. Rafaela doubled to the left-center field wall and eventually reached third, where he scored on Contreras’ groundout to third.
Contreras tacked on the final run in the ninth on an RBI single which scored Rafaela.
