BOSTONThis was certainly not the lineup manager Bobby Valentine envisioned in spring training. But it was good enough to take a win, 8-6, from the Royals Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.
Pedro Beato, who was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket before the game to make his Red Sox debut, earned the win. He went two innings (plus three batters), giving up two runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts.
Left-hander Felix Doubront returned from the disabled to make the start. He was not involved in the decision, going five innings, giving up four runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts and a home run. His threw 98 pitches, 67 strikes, as his ERA rose from 4.70 to 4.79.
Mark Melancon pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season.
The Sox got a run in the first as Pedro Ciriaco led off with a single to right, took third on Dustin Pedroias double, and scored on Cody Ross single to left.
They added another in the second when Mauro Gomez walked with one out and scored on Mike Aviles double.
In the fourth, though, the Royals took the lead, sending eight batters to the plate, with four scoring. The Royals did all their damage in the inning with two outs, as five consecutive batters reached on three singles, a Lorenzo Cain three-run home run into the Monster seats, and a walk.
Boston Red Sox
The Sox tied the game in the fifth. Pedro Ciriaco hit his second home run of the season. Jacoby Ellsbury followed with a single, taking second on Dustin Pedroias groundout, stealing third and scoring on newcomer James Loneys single to center.
The Sox took back the lead in the sixth. Gomez led off by reaching on an error by shortstop Alcides Escobar, going to third on Mike Aviles single to left and scoring when Ellsbury's liner glanced off first baseman Eric Hosmers glove for a single.
The Sox added two runs in the seventh off reliever Jeremy Jeffress. With two outs and the bases loaded, Escobars second error of the game, on Scott Podsedniks grounder allowed Ross (single to center) to score and Ciriacos single to third scored Ryan Lavarnway, who had singled to right.
Beato left with the bases loaded in the eighth. Craig Breslow, who replaced him, allowed two of the three inherited runners to score.
Dustin Pedroias 12th home run of the season, leading off the eighth, gave the Sox an insurance run.