Pedroia, Red Sox snap losing streak against Royals

BOSTON — Dustin Pedroia had four hits to extend his streak to 11 straight at-bats before bouncing into a double play with a chance to tie the major-league record and the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 8-3 on Saturday night.

Pedroia's streak, which stretched over three games, ended in the eighth inning. The big league mark of hits in 12 straight official at-bats is shared by Walt Dropo for Detroit in 1952, Pinky Higgins of the Red Sox in 1938 and Johnny Kling of the Cubs in 1902.

Xander Bogaerts homered and drove in three runs, and Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez hit consecutive homers for Boston, which snapped a three-game losing streak with its 11th win in 16 games.

David Price (13-8) won his fourth straight start, giving up two runs in six innings to lower his ERA to 3.97, the lowest it's been since after his first start of the season.

Danny Duffy (11-2) gave up three homers and seven runs in five innings, halting a personal 10-game winning streak.

Salvador Perez hit two solo homers for the Royals, who lost for just the fourth time 20 games.

Duffy had allowed two or fewer runs in five straight starts — and six of seven — before Boston took care of that string with two each in the first and second innings.

Two batters in, the Red Sox jumped ahead 2-0 on Bogaerts' 16th homer, a drive that completely left Fenway Park over the Green Monster after Pedroia singled.

In the bottom of the second after the Royals had tied it, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Pedroia had consecutive RBIs doubles, pushing Boston in front 4-2.

Perez homered and Alcides Escobar had an RBI double in the top of the inning.

Pedroia collected his 10th consecutive hit with a run-scoring single to make it 5-2 in the fourth. His 11th was a ground single to center in the sixth. He then bounced in the double play in the eighth.

Betts hit his 29th, a solo shot, in the fifth and Ramirez followed with his two pitches later to nearly the same spot, two rows into the Monster seats about three fans apart. After watching Ramirez's drive land in the seats, Duffy just smiled in disbelief as he waited for a new ball from home plate umpire Adrian Johnson.

BLUE JAYS 8, TWINS 7 Melvin Upton Jr. hit an RBI triple and continued home on a misplay in the eighth inning, completing host Toronto’s rally from a five-run deficit and sending the AL East-leading team over Minnesota. Edwin Encarnacion homered and drove in three runs as Toronto handed the Twins their ninth consecutive loss.

WHITE SOX 9, MARINERS 3 Jose Abreu hit the first of four White Sox home runs and Jose Quintana threw 7 2/3 solid innings to lead Chicago past the Seattle Mariners 9-3 on Saturday night. Avisail Garcia and Alex Avila hit consecutive homers during a four-run fifth and Tyler Saladino added a two-run shot in the seventh, all off struggling reliever Vidal Nuno. Abreu extended his hitting streak to 10 games and his on-base streak to 23 with a solo shot during a two-run first against Ariel Miranda (1-1).

ASTROS 6, RAYS 2 Rookie Alex Bregman homered and had three RBIs to back seven solid innings by Dallas Keuchel and lead the Houston Astros over the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2 on Saturday night. Bregman connected off fellow rookie Blake Snell (4-7) in the third inning to make it 4-0. It was Bregman’s fifth homer. Keuchel (9-12) allowed nine hits and two runs for his first career victory over the Rays. He entered 0-4 in six starts against them.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ROCKIES 9, NATIONALS 4 (11) Charlie Blackmon hit two home runs, including the goahead shot in the 11th inning, as Colorado beat host Washington to snap a four-game losing streak. Blackmon connected in the third off starter A.J. Cole, then hit a two-run drive off Yusmeiro Petit (3-4). Blackmon has 23 home runs this season and five multi-home-run games.

DODGERS 3, CUBS 2 Julio Urias allowed one run over six innings, Corey Seager set a Dodgers franchise record for a shortstop with his 23rd home run and Los Angeles defeated visiting Chicago to even the series between NL division leaders. Urias (5-2) pitched better at home than the last time he faced the Cubs. This time, he allowed 6 hits and tied a career high with 8 strikeouts and 2 walks.

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