Staked to early lead, Hammel allows eight runs

BOSTON -- The Royals' offense continued to show signs of life, but it wasn't enough to overcome right-hander Jason Hammel's shakiest start of the season.
Hammel gave up eight runs over 4 2/3 innings and the Royals fell to the Red Sox, 10-6, on a rainy Monday night at Fenway Park.
Hammel, who had a 2.33 ERA over his last four starts, was staked to a 3-0 lead in the first inning when the Royals took advantage of three walks and a hit batter by Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez. But Hammel gave up a home run to Mitch Moreland in the second inning and then a grand slam to Xander Bogaerts in a five-run third.

"For some reason, both [starting] pitchers [struggled]," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Maybe it was the weather with that heavy misty-type rain. … I thought Jason's first couple innings were good, but then he started to fight it himself a little bit in the third. The grand slam was a pitch that was up and in, which I don't think he was trying to go there. He was just battling command a little bit."
Trailing, 6-3, the Royals fought back in the fourth on a hit batter, and RBI doubles from Alcides Escobar and Whit Merrifield.

"We've been getting some hits with runners in scoring position," Yost said. "Took advantage of some wildness in the first inning, scored three runs. Brought it back within one there after they scored their five.We battled back to keep us in the game."

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas was hit in the right arm by a pitch in the first inning and later removed from the game. X-rays were negative and Moustakas was diagnosed with a contusion on his right lateral forearm. He is listed as day to day.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Rough third inning: Hammel was in good shape in the third inning, getting the first two hitters out. After a single by Andrew Benintendi, Hammel got ahead of Hanley Ramirez 0-2 and had thrown just 41 pitches. Then it all fell apart. Ramirez doubled and then J.D. Martinez, down 1-2 in the count, drew a walk. Hammel then walked Moreland when a 3-2 two-seam fastball was just barely low, forcing in a run. Hammel then threw a 3-2 two-seamer to Bogaerts, who crushed it over the Green Monster.

"Honestly, they put some really good at-bats together there, stretched the pitch count there," Hammel said. "Xander put a good swing on a pitch. It wasn't a very well-executed pitch, but I wasn't getting very many swings on the slider, which was surprising. Any time you can get four runs on one swing, you can do some damage. That was pretty much the story."
YOU GOTTA SEE THIS
Royals right-hander Scott Barlow finally made his Major League debut on Monday. He had been the team's 26th man for two previous doubleheaders and had warmed up in Kansas City over the weekend but had not appeared in a game. Barlow struck out the first man he faced, Christian Vázquez, and pitched a scoreless inning. Barlow was nicked for a run in his second inning of work, but he followed that up with another scoreless frame.

"I got to warm up in Kansas City and my heart was pounding then," Barlow said. "But being at Boston and at Fenway, your heart is coming out of your chest."
Barlow, who grew up in Connecticut, had his wife and mother in attendance, as well as his brother, who is a Red Sox fan.
"I was nervous tonight, but in a good way," Barlow said. "Tim Hill told me, 'You're going to be amped up, but use it to your advantage.' I took that to heart."
UP NEXT
Right-hander Jakob Junis (3-2, 3.34 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals on Tuesday against the Red Sox at 6:10 p.m. CT. Junis took the loss Thursday against the White Sox, giving up a career-high five home runs over 5 2/3 innings. Left-hander Chris Sale (2-1, 2.31 ERA) will pitch for the Red Sox.