2016 Season - Game 41

Boston Red Sox at Kansas City Royals
May 16, 2016	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Boston (25-16)	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	9	0
Kansas City (22-17)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
W: D. Price (7-1) L: I. Kennedy (3-2) S: C. Kimbrel (13)

KANSAS CITY, MO - With a full two game lead on New York in the AL East the Red Sox would open up the week with a rough road series against the defending Champions. The Royals would head into this game tied atop the AL Central, so taking this series would be important for them. David Price would taken the mound for this first game with a favorable match up against Ian Kennedy.

The Royals defense kept them in this game from the start, and Kennedy didn't do a whole lot to win the game. Mookie Betts managed to get on third during the 1st inning, and attempted to tag up on a deep fly to right field, but Lorenzo Cain gunned him down at home to keep Boston off the scoreboard.

Kennedy and Price held their own until Boston finally got to Kennedy despite the Royals superb defensive efforts. Betts found himself in the center of the action again when an RBI single brought in Jackie Bradley Jr. from second base, this time the throw home wasn't in time. Kennedy was clearly shaken after the play, and he broke apart over the heart of Boston's order. Xander Bogaerts drew an easy four pitch walk and Dustin Pedroia followed it up with an RBI single that would bring in Betts from second.

Price's one-hitter keeps him on a Cy Young pace.

Kennedy would get out of the inning, but the damage was done and that would be it for both teams. Price would pitch a solid eight inning one-hit effort with eleven strikeouts, Kennedy would only last five with a single strike out. Betts would be the MVP in a low-scoring affair after having a hand in both runs on a 2/4 performance.

2016 Season - Game 36

Houston Astros at Boston Red Sox
May 12, 2016	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Houston (24-12)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Boston (23-13)	1	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	7	0
W: D. Price (6-1) L: D. Keuchel (6-2)

BOSTON, MA - The Red Sox have been up and down to start the season, mostly up, but for the first time they face another team leading their division. With Houston coming to town, the Red Sox would be able to see if they are one of the best teams in the American League. It wouldn't hurt to have a David Price versus Dallas Keuchel match up to test their strength.

As thing turned out, Boston wouldn't need to do much as Keuchel wilted under the lights of Fenway. Mookie Betts opened the game with a lead off triple that made it easy for Dustin Pedroia to drive him in with a single. In the second inning Blake Swihart kept his 10-game hit streak going at Keuchel's expense. Things got even worse in the 3rd when Dustin Pedroia hit a HR with Bogaerts on first.

The 4th inning was capped off by a Rusney Castillo solo-HR and Keuchel would manage to get out of the inning and clear the way for Brad Peacock to take the mound. Boston didn't need to do much, especially with Price putting in a solid performance and taking a bow after seven innings. Price's three hit nine strikeout performance would set up Boston for a 4-0 lead that they would never surrender.

Carson Smith gave the Astros fans still around some drama in the 8th inning by putting two on with one out, but he managed to use a well placed splitter to enduce Carlos Gomez into a double-play ground out and escape the inning.

Pedroia's HR completes Keuchel's terrible night.

Pedroia walked away the hero tonight with a 2/3 performance with a HR and three RBI. Boston has three more home games against Houston before traveling to face the defending champions in Kansas City.