KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Allen Webster pitched six solid innings and Jemile Weeks stroked a pair of doubles and scored two runs as the Boston Red Sox defeated the sputtering Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Friday night.
Kansas City lost for the fourth time in five games and fell out of first place in the AL Central for the first time since Aug. 10. The Royals, who are 0-5 against the last-place Red Sox, dropped a half-game behind Detroit, which beat Cleveland 7-2.
Webster (4-3), who had allowed 15 runs on 16 hits and seven walks in 13 2-3 innings in his previous three starts, limited the Royals to four hits - including Eric Hosmer's two-run homer in the fourth.
Weeks, who had a two-run double in the ninth inning Thursday, doubled in the third and fifth. Mookie Betts singled home Weeks in a three-run third. He scored again on Daniel Nava's two-out single in the fifth.
The Royals aided the Red Sox in the third, with Betts scoring on third baseman Mike Moustakas' throwing error and Nava scoring on Yordano Ventura's wild pitch.
Ventura (12-10), who had won his previous three starts, gave up four runs - three earned - and seven hits in seven innings. He also hit two batters with pitches.
Red Sox relievers Tommy Layne, Burke Badenhop, Koji Uehara and Edward Mujica held the Royals hitless for the final three innings. Mujica earned his sixth save.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: DH David Ortiz (bruised right foot) and 1B Mike Napoli (sore toe and dislocated finger) did not play. . INF Brock Holt is out with concussion-like symptoms after being examined by a specialist in Pittsburgh.
Royals: LHP Danny Duffy, who missed his turn Thursday with a tender shoulder, made about 30 throws at 75 feet on flat ground. He said his goal is to make his next start, which would be Tuesday against the White Sox. . DH Josh Willingham injured his groin in his final at-bat Thursday and will be out for at least a couple of games.
UP NEXT
Red Sox: Rubby De La Rosa, who is 0-2 with a 6.20 ERA in his past five starts, will pitch the third game of the series. De La Rosa has allowed 37 hits and walked 11 in 24 2-3 innings over those five starts.
Royals: Jeremy Guthrie will make his 23rd appearance and 21st start against Boston on Saturday. He is 3-9 with a 5.06 ERA against the Red Sox and has not defeated them since 2011.
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