KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Will Middlebrooks homered down each of the lines, David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia also went deep, and the Boston Red Sox pounded the Kansas City Royals 11-5 on Monday night to snap a five-game losing streak.
Middlebrooks, called up last week when Kevin Youkilis went on the disabled list, hit a three-run shot in the first inning and a two-run homer in the eighth, becoming the first player in Red Sox history with at least one extra-base hit in each of his first four major league games.
He also hit a grand slam in Boston’s 17-inning loss to Baltimore the previous night.
Felix Doubront (2-1) allowed all five Kansas City runs over 6 1-3 innings, giving the Red Sox bullpen a much-needed rest. Boston used up every available arm against the Orioles, forcing left-fielder Darnell McDonald to finish the 9-6 defeat.
The Royals’ Jonathan Sanchez (1-2) was pounded for six runs in three-plus innings, the 11th straight time the former Giants starter failed to last more than five innings.
