GAME #72, BOSTON RED SOX AT KANSAS CITY ROYALS

[Bear]

RED SOX V ROYALS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017, 2 PM AT KAUFFMAN STADIUM

TV:  NESN, FSKC, MLBN, (OUT-OF-MARKET ONLY)

BOSTON, ( 40-31)..............................................................................KANSAS, (34-36)

BOSTON:

DREW POMERANZ, LHP, 6-4, 4.19 ERA, 77K

Pomeranz is 2-2 with a 3.41 ERA in six road starts this season.  On Friday
night in Houston, the southpaw allowed just one run on four hits over 6 1/3
frames, but he took a no-decision in Boston's eventual victory.

KANSAS CITY:

IAN KENNEDY, RHP, 1-7, 5.03 ERA, 33k

Kennedy took a perfect game into the sixth inning his last time
out before allowing a homerun to Cliff Pennington.  He earned a
win, his first of the season, while giving up two hits and fanning four
batters.

AL East-leading Sox turn to Pomeranz in finale

Wilson Alexander

The Royals and Red Sox will play the final game in a three game series on Wednesday afternoon at Kauffman Stadium with both teams in the thick of their respective divisional races.

With their 8-3 win on Tuesday, the Red Sox hold a half-game lead over the Yankees in the American League East. Despite dropping the middle game of the set, the Royals are just 3 1/2 games back of the AL Central-leading Indians.

Kansas City right-hander Ian Kennedy (1-6, 5.03 ERA) heads to the mound looking to earn his second win of the season. Kennedy flirted with a perfect game against the Angels in his last start before giving up a home run in the sixth inning to end the chance of making history. That was the only run scored off him, making it the first time he's surrendered less than four runs since April 28.

On the mound for the Red Sox will be Drew Pomeranz. The left-hander neutralized a potent Houston batting order in his last start, limiting the Astros to four hits and one run, a home run, over 6 1/3 innings. Pomeranz (6-4, 4.19 ERA) has allowed one home run in each of his past three starts.

Kennedy earned his first win of the season in that start over the Angels, which was his sixth start since returning from the disabled list. Since then, he has yet to pitch more than six innings. Similarly, Pomeranz has pitched seven or more innings only once this season.

THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GAME

• Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer, Alex Gordon and Brandon Moss are the only Royals to face Pomeranz. The only one to get a hit was Cain, who doubled.

• Red Sox designated hitter and first baseman Hanley Ramirez has struggled against Kennedy in his career, batting .154 (4-for-26), with one RBI, no extra-base hits, three walks and three strikeouts.

• Each of Kennedy's three lowest single-game averages in exit velocity allowed have come this month. His 86.5-mph average in June is far better than his mark in either April (89.7 mph) or May (92.3 mph).

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20170620237603234/al-east-leading-sox-turn-to-pomeranz-in-finale/?game_pk=491172

[Bear]

Here are Wednesday’s complete lineups, with the first pitch scheduled for 2:15 p.m. ET.

RED SOX (40-31)

Mookie Betts, RF
Andrew Benintendi,
LF Xander Bogaerts, SS
Mitch Moreland, 1B
Chris Young, DH
Jackie Bradley Jr., CF
Josh Rutledge, 2B
Christian Vazquez, C
Deven Marrero, 3B

Drew Pomeranz, LHP (6-4, 4.19 ERA)

ROYALS (34-36)

Whit Merrifield, LF
Jorge Bonifacio,
RF Lorenzo Cain,
CF Eric Hosmer,
DH Salvador Perez, C
Mike Moustakas, 3B
Cheslor Cuthbert, 1B
Alcides Escobar, SS
Ramon Torres, 2B

Ian Kennedy, RHP (1-6, 5.03 ERA)

: http://nesn.com/2017/06/red-sox-vs-royals-lineup-andrew-benintendi-returns-for-series-finale/

[Bill-806]

  Lets get this one.... The 1st place RED SOX !! thumb_u

[Bill-806]

Time to sit the  HAN/RAM man ....

[Bill-806]

Time to sit the  HAN/RAM man ....

  B I N G O  dat !! thumb_u

[ipot]

Ian Kennedy brings back a reality check thru 3 innings. Opposing starters will almost always shut us down.

[longgame]

Warm weather is good for the Sox apparently.  Nice back to back by Beni and Bogy.

[Rob from Mass]

All of a sudden Pomeranz becoming a key member of the Sox staff.
6ip  4 hits 2er and 4K thru 6.

[Rob from Mass]

XB has 10 RBI in last 8 games along with 3 HR.

[Rob from Mass]

Pomeranz starts the 7 with 83 pitches gives up a weak single up the middle gets the pen up.

[Rob from Mass]

After another weakly hit ball for a hit, Farrell comes out with the hook to get Pomeranz and bring in Kelly.

[Rob from Mass]

Very good game by Pomeranz.
6 1/3  innings   6H  2er  1bb and 5 Ks.That quiets the Pom Pom chants for a while

[Rob from Mass]

After an 11 pitch at bat Kelly walks the batter to load the bases with 2 outs.

[Rob from Mass]

Kelly gets the 3rd out on a hard liner to Mookie.

[Rob from Mass]

Coming into today the Sox have the 2nd best pen  ERA behind the Tribe. 2.58  to 2.84
No other team is under 3.00