KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)– Eduardo Rodriguez pitched capably into the seventh inning, Mookie Betts had a career-best four hits and the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Friday night.
Rodriguez (3-1), who gave up nine runs in 4 2/3 innings in his previous start against Toronto, allowed one run and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. Alcides Escobar’s RBI-double in the fifth was the first run he allowed on the road in 18 1/3 innings.
The Red Sox batted around in a five-run second inning, which included an RBI-single by Betts. Blake Swihart contributed a two-run double, while Mike Napoli drove in two runs with a single.
Betts is 13 for 22 in his past five games, raising his average to .267.
Boston’s Hanley Ramirez hit his 14th home run in the fifth.
Yohan Pino (0-2), who was making his first start, was roughed up for six runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings. Pino was recalled from Triple-A Omaha to fill in for Yordano Ventura, who went on the disabled list with ulnar nerve inflammation.
The Red Sox’ 16-hit attack featured five players with multi-hit games, including Pablo Sandoval, who doubled and singled to extend his hitting streak to nine games. Sandoval, who hit .429 against the Royals in the 2014 World Series, was benched Thursday after he used his cellphone during Wednesday’s game in Atlanta.
The Red Sox have won seven of their past eight games against the Royals.
Eric Hosmer homered in the eighth for Kansas City, which added a run in the ninth on a double by Mike Moustakas.
