KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In a thrilling contest that stretched into extra innings, the Kansas City Royals edged out the Boston Red Sox 2-1 on Friday night at Kauffman Stadium, thanks to a walk-off single from Freddy Fermin in the 12th inning. The victory marked the Royals' seventh consecutive win and their 16th in the last 18 games, solidifying their status as one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball.
Both teams entered the game with high hopes, but it was a battle of the pitchers that dominated the early frames. Royals right-hander Michael Lorenzen was stellar, allowing just three hits over seven shutout innings while striking out seven and walking none. Meanwhile, Red Sox rookie Hunter Dobbins matched him pitch for pitch, throwing six scoreless innings, scattering five hits, and striking out six.
The game remained scoreless through ten innings, with both bullpens stepping up to keep the offense in check. The Red Sox finally broke the deadlock in the top of the 11th. Ceddanne Rafaela, who had doubled earlier in the game, was moved to third by a groundout from Duran, and Rafael Devers brought him home with an infield grounder that was initially ruled a hit but later overturned on review.
However, the Royals responded immediately in the bottom half of the 11th. Vinnie Pasquantino, who had been a thorn in the Red Sox's side all night, singled to right field, driving in Drew Waters and sending the game to the 12th inning tied at 1-1.
In the decisive 12th, the Royals capitalized on their home-field advantage. With the ghost runner on second, Cavan Biggio laid down a perfect bunt to move the runner to third. Fermin then stepped up to the plate and delivered a sharp line drive to left-center, securing the victory and sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
After the game, Royals manager Matt Quatraro praised his team’s resilience, saying, “We’ve been playing great baseball lately. It’s all about finding ways to win, and tonight was another example of that.” The Royals are now 24-16 on the season, showcasing their potential as serious contenders in the American League.
On the other hand, the loss dropped the Red Sox to a disappointing 20-20 record, highlighting their struggles in one-run games, where they now sit at 4-10. Red Sox manager Alex Cora expressed frustration over the missed opportunities, noting, “We didn’t advance runners throughout the game, men at second and no outs, and when we did, we scored. We’ve got to show up tomorrow and try to do the little things and win a ballgame.”
Despite the loss, there were bright spots for Boston, particularly in the form of Dobbins. The 25-year-old rookie has now posted an impressive 2.78 ERA through his first four career MLB starts, drawing praise from Cora. “He’s been really good,” Cora stated. “He’s a guy who has a good mix, he has a good fastball, today he was under control and he gave us more than enough.”
The Red Sox bullpen faced challenges, particularly Garrett Whitlock, who blew his third save in the last four appearances. After allowing the tying run to score in the 11th, Whitlock struggled to find his rhythm, leading to the walk-off defeat. Cora hinted at potential roster moves, saying, “We’re talking about it, and also (Rob Refsnyder) and Romy (Gonzalez), they’re banged up, so we’ve got to make decisions probably, see how close they are.”
Looking ahead, the Red Sox will send left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet (3-2, 2.02 ERA) to the mound for the second game of the series on Saturday, where he will face Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (2-1, 3.79). The matchup is set for 6:10 p.m. Central Time, and both teams will be eager for a win as they continue their weekend series.
In other news, the Royals announced that pitcher Kyle Wright has been pulled from his rehab assignment due to shoulder fatigue. Wright, who has been recovering from shoulder surgery for the past 18 months, showed promise in his earlier outings but faced setbacks in his most recent start. Quatraro reassured fans, stating, “I don’t think we believe it’s serious at all. Just pushing back a start, possibly two at most, and get back out there.”
As the series continues, both teams will look to capitalize on their strengths and address their weaknesses, making for an exciting matchup in the heart of the baseball season.
