BOSTON - Quotes, notes and stars from the Red Sox' 6-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals
QUOTES:
"We continually do a great job in creating opportunities and I'm confident that (the struggles with men in scoring position) will turn.'' - John Farrell
"When you start off with a five-run spot in the first, that's a tough deficit to overcome.'' - Steven Wright.
"That's how it goes sometimes. Sometimes, we score when we're not expecting to and then when we need to score, sometimes it doesn't happen.'' - Mookie Betts on the team going 4-for-15 with RISP.
NOTES:
Boston Red Sox
* The loss was just the third in the last 13 series openers for the Red Sox.
* The game marked the first time in 20 home games in which the Sox never led.
* Boston was 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
* The first four hitters in the order were 13-for-19 (.684). The fifth-through-nine hitters, however, were just 2-for-21 (.095).
* Mookie Betts (five hits) leads the majors with 55 multi-hit games.
* Dustin Pedroia has reached base in each of his last eight plate appearances.
* David Ortiz's double was the 625th of his career, passing Hank Aaron to move into 10 place in MLB history.
* Ortiz leads the A.L. in doubles (41) and extra-base hits (72).
STARS:
1) Eric Hosmer
Hosmer cranked a three-run homer into the Monster Seats four batters into the game, and the Royals were off and running with a five-run inning.
2) Ian Kennedy
The Royals starter wasn't dominant, allowing nine hits in 5 1/3 innings, but he bailed himself out of a number of jams and limited the Sox to just two runs.
3) Mookie Betts
Betts had his first career five-hit night and knocked in two of the three Red Sox runs, though he also got himself picked off first base.