Red Sox Drop Opener to Royals 5-3 [VIDEO]

The Boston Red Sox dropped the opening game of the 3-game series with the Kansas City Royals Friday night, losing 5-3.

Nick Pivetta went 5.0 innings, allowing 6 hits and 3 runs. He struck out 6 and walked 3.

Matt Andriese came on in relief, and allowed 2 runs in 2 innings on 4 hits. He struck out 1.

Yacksel Rios pitched the 8th inning, his 2nd appearance for Boston, and didn't allow a hit, but did walk 2, striking out 1 for a scoreless inning.

Rafael Devers tried to rally Boston in the 8th, when they were down 5-2, hitting a solo home run, his 17th of the season.

Alex Verdugo was 2-5 with a double

Christian Vazquez was 3-4.

The Red Sox had chances. They left the bases loaded in thee 5th inning.

In the 3rd inning, the Red Sox had runners on 1st and 3rd with no out and 1 run in, and were looking to put a crooked number on the scoreboard. But J.D. Martinez hit a grounder to 3rd base, freezing Christian Arroyo at 3rd. When the Royals threw to 2nd base to get the force, Arroyo broke for home and was easily gunned down at the plate for a double play.

The Red Sox led 1-0 before Adalberto Mondesi absolutely crushed a Nick Pivetta pitch into the right field stands to make it 3-1 with a 3-run homer.

Manager Alex Cora on the game

The good news for the Red Sox, was that the Tampa Bay Rays lost their game to the Seattle Mariners 5-1, so the Red Sox remain just a half game back in 2nd place. The Red Sox and Rays play a 3 game series at Tropicana Field Tuesday-Thursday next week.

The Red Sox and Royals play the middle game of the series Saturday afternoon at 4:10. Hear the pregame starting at 3:10 on AM 1370 WDEA.