Winner of Royals-Red Sox finale will take Wild Card lead after KC comeback falls short

The Kansas City Royals found themselves in another slugfest against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.

Both teams traded blows in the American League affair. The Red Sox struck first in Monday’s win and found a way to hold off the charging Royals once again.

Boston earned a hard-fought 6-5 win at Kauffman Stadium. Red Sox designated hitter Masataka Yoshida led the way with three RBIs.

“Everything is in front of us, like I said before,” Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said. “We’re going to learn from these games, but we are not going to dwell on them. We are going come back out tomorrow.”

In the third inning, Yoshida hit a solo homer off Royals starter Seth Lugo. Later, he added a two-run single to extend the Boston lead.

The Royals were behind once again. The offense attempted a late comeback as outfielder MJ Melendez hit a two-run double to bring the club within one run.

Later, Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. stepped to the plate with the game on the line. He faced Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen with two outs in the ninth.

Witt battled valiantly — fouling off two pitches — but ultimately struck out to end the game. The Red Sox improved to 61-51 (0.545) and moved a half-game behind the Royals in the AL Wild Card race. The Royals dropped to 63-52 (0.548).

“We have all the confidence in the world just as everybody else does in him,” Pasquantino said of Witt. “So, tip your hat to Jansen tonight. That’s why he is going to be a Hall of Famer.”

The winner of Wednesday’s finale will take the lead for the final Wild Card spot.

Missed previous Royals coverage?

Game 1: Royals drop series opener against Red Sox with playoff implications at stake

Hotel Amenities: Bobby Witt Jr. lobbies to get hotel points during road trips

Here are more notables from Tuesday’s game:

Replay review costs Royals

The Red Sox received a boost of momentum in the sixth inning. After the Royals rallied to tie the score, Boston surged forward with three runs.

“Any way you give up runs is frustrating,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “You know, they did a good job that inning of getting the ball in play and moving guys over.”

Red Sox first baseman Dominic Smith began the inning with a double. Second baseman Nick Sogard added a single to create a late scoring opportunity.

The Royals stuck with Lugo. He had managed to pitch into the sixth inning despite allowing the three runs.

Lugo struck out Red Sox shortstop David Hamilton. However, he threw a wild pitch the following at-bat against outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela. The baseball rolled past Royals captain Salvador Perez.

Perez pounced quickly and fired the baseball back to Lugo at home plate. Lugo applied the tag on Smith as he rumbled from third base.

Smith was initially called out at home. However, the Red Sox challenged the play and an official review overturned the call.

“I wish I had done like a swipe tag,” Lugo said. “I could tell I didn’t get his arm, and his hand got to the plate. So I was hoping it didn’t have good enough video to show that.”

Boston took a 4-3 lead. Rafaela would walk and later score as Yoshida hit a two-run single to extend the club’s advantage.

Lugo pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed six runs (four earned) in the loss. He allowed four walks and struck out four batters.

Michael Massey goes ‘nuclear’ for home run

The Royals inserted Massey back in the leadoff spot on Tuesday night. It proved to be a smart decision as Massey hit his 10th home run of the season.

And it traveled a long distance.

Massey hit an 88 mph changeup off Red Sox starter Brayan Bello in the fifth inning. The homer traveled 434 feet and landed in the right-center field fountains.

“I was trying to get something up, something in, and was trying to put a good swing on it,” Massey said.

The Royals scored two runs in the fifth inning. After Massey’s homer, Witt Jr. hit a single and later scored on Pasquantino’s RBI double.

Massey finished 1-for-5 and now has three extra-base hits in the series.

“Nuclear,” Pasquantino said of the homer. “That’s all I was thinking. It was, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t know you had that in you, Mass.’ ... Yeah it was a great swing. Looking for more of those in the near future from him.”

What’s next on the KC Royals schedule?

The Royals conclude their three-game series against the Red Sox. On Wednesday, KC will send All-Star Cole Ragans to the mound.

Ragans is 8-7 with a 3.36 ERA this season. He will make his third career start against the Red Sox after allowing one run in seven innings at Fenway Park on July 12.

The Red Sox will turn to right-hander Kutter Crawford in the series finale. He is 7-8 with a 3.81 ERA in 22 starts.