Rough start for Singer, failed ninth-inning rally lead to 5-4 loss to Boston

The Royals end the first half.

Brady Singer was pulled after less than three innings and the Royals blew a chance at a ninth-inning rally to drop the series finale against the Red Sox 5-4 on Sunday afternoon.

Adam Frazier jumped on Red Sox starter Brayan Bello with a home run to start the game, his third of the year. But Brady Singer gave the lead up and then some in the bottom of the inning, giving up a two-run home run to All-Star Rafael Devers. He continued to struggle in the second, when Wily Abreu led off with a double, and Dominic Smith followed up with a two-run home run to make it 4-1 Boston.

Singer gave up two more singles in the inning, but escaped further trouble, then got into a bases-loaded jam before Matt Quatraro lifted him after just 2 ²⁄₃ innings, his shortest outing since last April 30, when he was pulled in the third inning after giving up 8 runs to the Twins. Angel Zerpa was able to escape the inning without any further damage.

The Royals scratched out a run in the fourth when Salvador Perez and Michael Massey singled, with Salvy advancing to third on a force out grounder by Hunter Renfroe. MJ Melendez beat out a double play ball, allowing Salvy to score, but aggravated his ankle, leaving the game. In the sixth, Salvy smacked a solo home run, his 17th of the year, to pull the Royals within a run.

The Royals got scoreless relief outings from Angel Zerpa, Sam Long, and John Schreiber, but Will Smith gave up an RBI single to Dominic Smith in the eighth to make it 5-3. Kansas City mounted a rally in the ninth when Hunter Renfroe reached on a one-out infield single and Garrett Hampson walked against closer Kenley Jansen. Freddy Fermin singled to score pinch-runner Dairon Blanco, but Hampson inexplicably tried to go for third base and was thrown out easily. Nick Loftin grounded out to end the threat and the game.

The Royals finish the first half 52-45, two games back of Boston for the Wild Card. They will break for the All-Star Game before returning Friday for a nine-game homestand against the White Sox, Diamondbacks, and Cubs.