KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kendrys Morales homered on his 32nd birthday and the Kansas City Royals rallied to beat the Boston Red Sox 7-4 on Saturday night.
Morales hit a two-run, tie-breaking shot in a five-run fifth off Rick Porcello (4-8). It was his third career homer on his birthday.
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WHO: Red Sox (Miley 6-6) at Royals (Young 6-2)
WHEN: 2:10 p.m. Sunday
TELEVISION: NESN
The Red Sox lost third baseman Pablo Sandoval (sprained left ankle) and catcher Blake Swihart (sprained left foot) to injuries, and designated hitter David Ortiz was ejected in the seventh inning by home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman.
The Red Sox scored two runs in the top of the fifth to take a 4-1 lead, but Porcello imploded in the bottom of the inning with a hit batter, a balk, a walk and four hits.
Porcello lost his sixth straight, matching his career high set in 2012. He allowed six runs, eight hits and two walks and hit two batters in five innings.
Sandoval committed a throwing error in the bottom of the fifth when he hurt his ankle. After making a diving stop, he tried to tag out Alcides Escobar at third base, then made a late and wild throw to first that allowed Escobar to score the tying run while the batter, Lorenzo Cain, advanced to second. It was Sandoval’s 10th error of the season.
Two batters later, Morales put the Royals ahead with his eighth homer of the season.
Swihart was pinch hit for in the sixth after injuring his left foot on a slide into third base the previous inning.
Salvador Perez hit his fifth home run in 12 games for the Royals and Mike Moustakas drove in two runs.
Boston’s Mookie Betts led off the game with a home run, extending his hitting streak to eight games.
Right-hander Edinson Volquez (7-4) was not sharp, allowing four runs, eight hits and two walks in 51/3 innings, but won his third straight start.
Greg Holland worked the ninth for his 13th save in 14 opportunities.
TRAINER’S ROOM
RED SOX: Second baseman Dustin Pedroia (sore left knee) returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games. He hit third and was 0 for 5.
ROYALS: Left-hander Danny Duffy (biceps tendinitis) will come off the disabled list Wednesday to start at Seattle.
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RED SOX: Left-hander Wade Miley, who starts the series finale, yielded a career-high 10 earned runs, nine hits and three walks in 42/3 innings on Aug. 5, 2014, against the Royals while with the Diamondbacks.
ROYALS: Right-hander Chris Young is 4-1 with a 2.42 ERA in six home games this season.
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