Red Sox Prevail Over Royals in Battle of the Bullpens

By JJ Misiewicz

Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images

May 20, 2026

Red Sox 7, Royals 1

The Boston Red Sox took game two of the series with a 7–1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium. In a matchup that leaned heavily on both bullpens, the Red Sox scored four runs in the ninth to put the game out of reach.

Red Sox-Royals Game Summary

Both teams scored in the first inning. Willson Contreras delivered an RBI single, while Lane Thomas lined a double down the right‑field line to even the score at 1–1.

Caleb Durbin added an RBI single in the second to give the Red Sox the lead. They loaded the bases with one out but did not add on. Bailey Falter lasted only two innings before Luinder Avila entered in the third.

Back‑to‑back hits from Carter Jensen and Maikel Garcia ended Ranger Suárez’s outing after 4 1/3 innings. Garcia was thrown out trying to take second on the play. The Red Sox defense prevented the Royals from scoring in the fifth.

Ceddanne Rafaela opened the eighth with a double and moved to third on a deep flyout by Wilyer Abreu. With the infield in, Contreras drove him home with a groundout to third, extending the lead to 3–1.

Justin Slaten, Garrett Whitlock, and Aroldis Chapman were lined up to pitch for the second straight game. Slaten and Whitlock handled the seventh and eighth innings. Chapman was not needed for the ninth.

Red Sox Ninth‑Inning Surge

Nick Sogard was thrown out at home on a single by Mickey Gasper. However, Jarren Duran erased the missed opportunity. He turned on a 1–2 fastball and sent it into the right‑field corner for his fifth home run of the season, a three‑run shot that made it 6–1. Contreras added an RBI single to push the lead to 7–1.

Jovani Moran pitched the ninth thanks to the Red Sox State Farm-worthy insurance.

What Went Right for the Red Sox

Bullpen Steps Up

After Suárez exited, the relievers controlled the game. All five recorded important outs and prevented the Royals from mounting a rally.

Duran’s All‑Around Impact

In Roman Anthony’s absence, Duran reached base four times and provided late insurance. He finished 2‑for‑3 with two walks and the decisive home run.

What Went Wrong for the Red Sox

Baserunning Outs

The Red Sox had two runners thrown out while trying to take extra bases. Duran and Sogard are typically aggressive runners, but the Royals executed defensively.