The Red Sox go into the All-Star Break a season-high 11 games over .500 with Sunday's 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals.  Sox dropped the opener Friday night, won the next two and have won 4 straight series.  

The Sox were down 1-0 just four pitches into the game with Brayan Bello giving up a home run to the Royals leadoff hitter, Adam Frazier.  Bello responded nicely but retiring the next 3 hitters.  Bello allowed a single to Hunter Renfroe in the 2nd inning, but he was thrown out at 2nd by left-fielder Tyler O'Neill trying to stretch a single into a double.  

Rafael Devers gave the Red Sox their first lead of the afternoon with a 2-out, 2-run Home Run in the bottom of the 1st inning off of starting pitcher Brady Singer.  It was Dever's 2nd home run of the series and 23rd on the year.  Dominic Smith made it 4-1 with a 2-run Home Run in the 2nd inning. It was Smith's 5th Home Run of the season and 2nd of the homestand.

Royals made it a 1-run game with Salvador Perez hitting a solo Home Run off Bello in the 6th inning.  Sox had opportunities to add on, but left bases loaded in the 3rd, stranded two in scoring position in the 4th and 2 in the 6th.

Bello retired the leadoff hitter in the 7th, but was taken out after issuing his first walk of the game.  Brennan Bernardino entered and threw a wild pitch to allow the runner to move to 2nd base, but Bernardino left him stranded by getting a pop-up on the infield and a strike out.  

Red Sox finally added on in the 7th inning.  Rafael Devers led off the inning with a walk and scored on a 2-out RBI single from Smith.  Smith with 5 RBIs in the final 2 games of the series.  

Kenley Jansen entered in the 8th inning and struck out the side in impressive fashion.  Jansen allowed 3 straight hitters to reach with one out.  Freddy Fermin knocked in a run with a single and on the play Ceddanne Rafaela threw the runner out at 3rd for the 2nd out of the inning.  

Jansen came back and got the next hitter on a ground out to end the game and notch the save.

It's his 19th save of the season and the 439th of his career.     

Locked On Red Sox POSTCAST Notes-

Duran had 4 hits, including a double, and now has 47 extra-base hits thru the first 95 games of the season.  It's his 3rd 4-hit game of '24. Duran grounded out in the 8th.  David Hamilton had 3 hits in the #2 spot in the lineup.    

Bello notched his 10th win of the season on Sunday.  He's the only pitcher with 10 or more wins and an ERA over 4.

Red Sox with 14 hits in the win and are now 33-3 this season when tallying 10 or more hits.  

The Red Sox are 10-2 in the rubber game of a series this season and 7-0 at Fenway Park. 

Red Sox will open up after the All-Star Break with a 6-game road trip against the Dodgers and Rockies.

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