Gray Gets Tagged Early, Sox Can’t Complete the Comeback in 3-2 Loss to Royals
Two runs in the fifth wasn't enough to erase a three-run hole.
On Friday, September 11, 2026, the Boston Red Sox faced off against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park. The Royals proved to be a formidable opponent, securing a 3-2 victory in a game marked by Sonny Gray's struggles. The Royals had no trouble getting on the board, taking a 3-0 lead before the third inning, with Sonny Gray conceding 10 hits across six innings while earning a quality start.
Mickey Gasper, playing as designated hitter, put the Sox ahead with a powerful home run in the fifth inning, followed by Willy Abreu's double that drove in another run. However, it was too little too late, as the Red Sox were unable to capitalize on their momentum. Seth Lugo, who had been hittable throughout the game, was replaced by Nick Hoffman in the sixth inning, but Kansas City's bullpen—consisting of Hoffman, Carson Thomas, Nate Pearson, and Steven Cruz—held strong and kept the Sox scoreless in the final two innings.
Despite the loss, the Sox still controlled their own destiny in the race for a playoff spot. The team was encouraged by Mickey Gasper's nine home runs this season, playing as both a designated hitter and catcher. However, the offense needed to step up and deliver in the remaining games in order to secure their postseason aspirations.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
