KC 5, BOS 1: Byrd Gets His Wings Clipped In First

Seven sterling innings could not undo the wrongs of the first inning, as the Red Sox lose the second game of a four game series to the Kansas City Royals, 5-1. Red Sox starter Paul Byrd gave up five earned runs in the first inning, a deficit from which the Red Sox could not recover. To his credit, Byrd composed himself and ended up maintaining those five earned runs over 6.2 strong innings... well, only 5.2 were actually strong. The frustration of the evening was amplified by a lights out performance by Royals Ace Zack Greinke, who allowed for only two hits in his six innings on the hill. The Royals' pitching was so effective that the only Red Sox tally of the night came off the bat of Victor Martinez, who grounded out to Billy Butler in order to bring Jacoby Ellsbury home in the top of the eighth. The Royals offense was much more verbose, particularly early on in the game. After walking Mike Jacobs on four straight balls to score David DeJesus, Alberto Collaspo, M...