BOSTON -- A 12-run inning. Two players thrown out at home. Four errors. One of baseball's best closers struggling. A pitcher getting his first save as a professional. A grand slam.
Thursday night's game between the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox had all that and more."You can evaluate it, dissect it, do anything you want to this game. It comes down to mistakes," Royals manager Tony Muser said. "When the smoke cleared, we came out two runs on top."
Kansas City beat Boston 13-11 on Dave McCarty's two-run triple in the eighth inning after overcoming a six-run deficit against the pitching staff with baseball's best ERA.
"It stinks," Boston's Carl Everett said. "We're not supposed to lose games like this."
Everett hit a grand slam, his 17th homer of the season, as Boston took a 6-1 lead with six runs in the third off starter Chris Fussell.
TWINS 5, BLUE JAYS 1: Eric Milton allowed five hits in eight innings, and Ron Coomer homered as Minnesota won at the SkyDome.
Milton (5-1) has won three straight starts and has allowed just two earned runs since getting shelled for nine in 2 1/3 innings of a 14-0 loss to Seattle on May 15.
DEVIL RAYS 2, ORIOLES 1: Bryan Rekar came within two outs of his first career shutout as Tampa Bay beat visiting Baltimore.
Rekar (2-3) took a five-hitter into the ninth inning before allowing a one-out solo homer to Brady Anderson. Roberto Hernandez got two outs for his sixth save in 10 chances.