KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Daniel Nava hit a grand slam, Xander Bogaerts added a three-run shot and the Boston Red Sox rallied past the skidding Kansas City Royals 8-4 on Sunday.
Kansas City blew a four-run lead and dropped three of four to the last-place Red Sox.
The Royals fell 1 1-2 games behind Detroit, which beat Cleveland, in the AL Central. Kansas City is in the thick of the wild-card race.
The Red Sox chased Jason Vargas (11-9) with one out in the sixth after Mookie Betts and Bogaerts singled. Reliever Aaron Crow walked Yoenis Cespedes to load the bases and struck out Allen Craig.
Nava hit Crow's next pitch into the Red Sox bullpen for his second career grand slam and a 7-4 lead.
Bogaerts homered in the third and got three hits. He also had a sacrifice fly and drove in four runs, giving him 11 RBIs in his past 15 games.
Joe Kelly (3-2) gave up five consecutive hits and four runs in the second, but nothing else in six innings. The Royals loaded the bases in the ninth off Edward Mujica, but Lorenzo Cain struck out to end the game.
Eric Hosmer hit a three-run homer in the second, and Omar Infante's grounder scored another run in the inning.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: INF-OF Brock Holt (concussion) remains sidelined and is having vision problems.
Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (sore shoulder) made 20 throws with no discomfort in a bullpen session. Manager Ned Yost said they would check on how Duffy feels Monday and make a decision on whether he will start Tuesday against the White Sox. ... DH Josh Willingham (groin strain) has not played since Thursday.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: After an off-day Monday, the 10-game trip continues Tuesday with the first of three games at Pittsburgh, another playoff-contending club. Rookie right-hander Anthony Ranaudo will start the series opener.
Royals: Staff ace James Shields, who has a career-high 18 1-3 inning scoreless streak, will start the series opener against the visiting White Sox. Shields hasn't done well against Chicago SS Alexei Ramirez, who has a .412 batting average with two home runs in 51 at-bats against him.
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