Final: Royals 5, Red Sox 4 - Sox lose on a walkoff homer

One strike away from heading to extra innings, the Red Sox lost 5-4 on a walkoff homer by Nick Pratto off Garrett Whitlock.

Whitlock had been brilliant in relief of starter Nathan Eovaldi, retiring the first eight hitters he faced in succession. But on a full count, he left a changeup up and Pratto drilled it over the center field fence with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

The Sox had gotten a solo homer from Alex Verdugo and a two-run blast from Bobby Dalbec to account for three of their first four runs. But the Sox stranded two in the top of the eighth and live to regret it.

WHO: Red Sox (54-54) vs. Kansas City Royals (42-65)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Kauffman Stadium
SERIES TO DATE: 1-1
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (5-3, 4.11) vs. LHP Daniel Lynch (4-7, 4.70)
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM 93.7

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Pham LF
Devers 3B
Bogaerts SS
Verdugo RF
Martinez DH
Arroyo 2B
Dalbec 1B
Davis CF
Plawecki C

ROYALS

Melendez LF
Witt Jr.SS
Perez C
Pasquantino DH
Dozier 3B
Pratto 1B
Taylor CF
Isbel RF
Lopez 2B