Boston’s Rafael Devers celebrates in the dugout with teammates after hitting a two-run homer in the first inning Sunday against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park. Steven Senne/Associated Press
BOSTON — Rafael Devers hit a two-run homer that broke a seat deep in right field at Fenway Park, Dominic Smith also had a two-run shot, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 5-4 on Sunday to take the series between playoff contenders.
The Red Sox won their second straight after losing the opener. Boston improved to a major league-best 9-3 in July and is 20-8 since June 12.
Devers sent a first-inning slider from Brady Singer (5-6) an estimated 439 feet, crashing into the top of a seat and loosening up the top support. The Red Sox posted a “Fenway Facilities Incident Report” that had a picture of the broken red seat on their social media sites.
“The kid is locked in,” Red Sox Manager Alex Cora said of Devers, who opted out of going to the All-Star Game to rest a nagging shoulder. “Just take care of him this week. He’s not going to Texas for a good reason, right. He wants to be ready for the second part (of the season), getting treatment during the week and keeping healthy.”
Adam Frazier opened the game with a homer into the Royals’ bullpen, and Salvador Perez, who was selected for his ninth All-Star Game, added a solo shot into the Green Monster seats for Kansas City.
First-time All-Star Jarren Duren had four hits for the Red Sox, who improved to a majors’ best 15-1 on Sundays. Boston enters the All-Star break surprisingly 4½ games out of first in the AL East after finishing in the basement three of the last four years.
“Today was just a good overall team win,” Duran said. “I’ve been saying it a lot this year. We’re keeping it rolling and I love it.”
Brayan Bello (10-5) overcame his struggles at home, allowing three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. He had posted a 6.55 ERA in his seven starts at Fenway.
Kenley Jansen got the final six outs, striking out three, for his 19th save – the 439th of his career. He gave up a run in the ninth but got Nick Loftin to ground out with a runner on second to end it.
Smith’s shot went an estimated 431 feet, traveling over Boston’s bullpen, to make it 4-1 in the second inning. He added an RBI single that made it 5-3 in the seventh.
Singer had allowed just one run in each of his previous four starts but was tagged for four runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings.
The Royals go into the break with 52 victories, three off the most before the All-Star Game in team history behind the 1973 club. Kansas City is two games behind Boston for the third AL wild-card position.
“I could care less what last year’s record was at this point,” Manager Matt Quatraro said. “This is a new team. This is a bunch of guys that’s fighting their butts off to compete in a playoff race and that’s what’s exciting.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Royals: Outfielder MJ Melendez limped out of the game because of a sprained left ankle after beating out a fielder’s choice grounder that drove in a run in the fourth. … Perez was the DH for the second straight game after leaving Friday’s game early due to cramping.
Red Sox: Outfielder Tyler O’Neill was back in the lineup after getting Saturday off.
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