Red Sox Secure Sweep Over Royals

By JJ Misiewicz

Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images

May 20, 2026

Red Sox 4, Royals 3

The Boston Red Sox swept the Kansas City Royals with a 4–3 win on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium. Connelly Early got the win pitching 6 1/3 innings while allowing three runs on six hits and one walk. Royals reliever Steven Cruz shouldered the loss, allowing two earned runs in two thirds of an inning.

Red Sox-Royals Game Summary

NESN play-by-play announcer Dave O’Brien mentioned how close Salvador Perez was to George Brett‘s franchise home run record. Perez decided to inch closer, taking a high and inside fastball from Early and sending it to the seats in left.

Nick Sogard tied it back up with an RBI single to right in the second inning. Despite Carlos Narvaez hitting into a double play, he drove in another run in the process to take a 2–1 lead.

It took until the fifth inning for the scoring to resume. With a runner on first, Elias Diaz took a low and inside sinker to left-center to take a 3–2 lead. Despite the Royals getting two runners on the following inning, Early got out of the jam.

The top of the seventh saw the Red Sox respond, and Jarren Duran was the guy to provide that. On a 3–1 count with a runner on, Duran drove a fastball over the fence in left for his second home run in as many games.

Greg Weissert took the mound, and although he didn’t get through spotless, he made it through an inning and two thirds before Jovani Moran got the last out in the eighth.

Starling Marte started the ninth with a bloop single. Despite that, Aroldis Chapman notched his 27th consecutive save to secure the series sweep.

What Went Right for the Red Sox

Completed the Sweep

Against a Royals team that’s drastically better at home, coming into Kauffman Stadium and getting the sweep is a great sign. They hit .324 with an .887 OPS as a team throughout the series. Best of all, not a single run allowed by the bullpen.

Whole Lineup Hitting

Every hitter in the starting lineup except for Isiah Kiner-Falefa notched a hit, with Duran and Contreras getting multiple.

What Went Wrong for the Red Sox

Still Striking Out

Once again, the Red Sox got fanned double digit times this game. The 16th time this season that’s happened.

Looking Ahead

The Red Sox will look for revenge against the Minnesota Twins, as they play a three-game series at Fenway Park starting Friday at 7:10 pm Eastern. Payton Tolle will take the bump for the Red Sox, and Connor Prielipp will do the same for the Twins.