into the finals in eighth spot on the back of four straig

BOSTON -- It took Steven Wright an inning Friday night to shake off the rust of three weeks spent on the disabled list.That was all the Kansas City Royals needed to spoil his return.Wright gave up five runs -- including two homers -- in the first inning, and the Royals held on for a 6-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.I think I got a little antsy, too much adrenaline in that first inning, said Wright (13-6), who took the loss in his first game back off the DL with a right shoulder strain. The walks killed me.Wright settled down and gave up just three runs after the first inning. He lost despite going at least six innings for the 10th time in 15 starts. Before Friday he had not allowed more than one home run in any of his previous 26 starts, which was the fourth-longest active streak in the majors.It also had been the longest by a Red Sox pitcher since Pedro Martinez did it over 44 starts.Mookie Betts had five hits and two RBI for the Red Sox. Dustin Pedroia added four hits and an RBI.Thats just how it goes sometimes, Betts said. Sometimes we score the ones were not expecting and then when we you need to score, sometimes it just doesnt happen.Eric Hosmer and Alex Gordon homered, and Ian Kennedy allowed one run through five innings to get the win as the Royals continued their monthlong hot streak.Kansas City has won 11 of its last 12 games and is 18-6 in August.Kennedy (9-9) had a chance to set a club record by allowing one or fewer runs in six straight outings of at least six innings. But he left with a runner on after 5 1/3 innings and wound up charged for two earned runs in the game. He finished with nine strikeouts.Kelvin Herrera earned his 10th save.Lorenzo Cain added a solo homer in the eighth inning.Honestly, you just have to swing hard and hope the ball doesnt break. But if it does, it breaks into your bat, Hosmer said of the knuckleball.The Royals jumped on Wright at the outset, taking a 5-0 lead in the first inning on a three-run shot by Hosmer, followed quickly by a two-run blast by Gordon.Boston had three hits and got one run back in its half of first. It had a chance to add more after loading the bases with one out, but the potential rally stalled when Sandy Leon and Jackie Bradley, Jr. both struck out.Despite the loss, manager John Farrell said he is encouraged by this teams offensive effort.We continually do a great job of creating opportunities, he said. And Im confident that this will turn. I cant say we expanded the strike zone with men in scoring position or the bases loaded. Kennedy challenged us. And we came up empty.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: RHP Wade Davis (right flexor strain) is expected to throw for Triple-A Omaha on Saturday, and then possibly again on Monday. Manager Ned Yost said he doesnt anticipate him returning before Sept. 1.Red Sox: Rookie LF Andrew Benintendi went through another series of tests Friday which reaffirmed the original diagnosis of no structural damage to his sprained left knee. He was hurt during Bostons loss to the Rays Wednesday night when he tried to avoid a tag while running toward second base. Farrell said he is optimistic about an injury that could have been much, much worse. Benintendi was walking around the clubhouse with no brace Friday. Obviously its something you dont plan on, he said. Its unfortunate that it happened and Im just going to try to get as healthy as possible as quickly as I can. ... RHP Koji Uehara, who has been on the DL since July 20 with right pectoral sprain, threw a bullpen session Friday.UP NEXTRoyals: LHP Danny Duffy (11-1, 2.66 ERA) will make his 20th start of the season and 100th of his career on Saturday. He earned his 10th straight win in Kansas Citys 2-1 win over Minnesota on Sunday, holding the Twins to one run and eight hits. His next strikeout will be the 500th of his career.Red Sox: LHP David Price (12-8, 4.00) leads the majors with nine starts of at least eight innings this season. His 2.01 career ERA against the Royals is the third-lowest among active pitchers.---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower Geoff Petrie Jersey . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. CJ McCollum Jersey . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. https://www.cheapblazersonline.com/808i-rasheed-wallace-jersey-blazers.html . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. Nassir Little Jersey .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. Moses Brown Jersey . Reassurance came from Paul Tesori, his caddie and close friend whose newborn son is in intensive care in a Florida hospital. "Paul sent me a text this morning, just told me he loved me and wanted to go out and fight as hard as I would any other day," Simpson said Sunday after doing just that. The AFLs much-maligned bye could prove a godsend for North Melbourne coach Brad Scott and his battered and bruised Kangaroos.Scott is confident the extra week off has freshened up his team and allowed Jarrad Waite and Scott Thompson to overcome injury in time for the AFL elimination final against Adelaide.The key duo are winning their battles with hip and adductor complaints respectively and have another three training sessions to prove their fitness to take on the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.I think theyll both be available for selection, so weve got really good options there, Scott said on Tuesday.But theyre going to be big decisions and its far too early in the week to make a definitive call either way.Weve made some calls this year that have backfired in terms of bringing guys back, but were really conscious that Waite and Thompson, in particular, have played some pretty good footy in really big games.Theyre proven big game performers so that will come into calculations.Scott said his players were feeling positive after a break, with the bye coming at the right time for his team after they limped into the finals in eighth spot on the back of four straight losses.One of the coachs key concerns is getting his forward set-up right with Waite likely to return and either Drew Petrie or Majak Daw the most likely to make way.ddddddddddddScott may have provided a clue to his thinkingw the most likely to make way.ddddddddddddScott may ha when asked about Petries mindset after he admitted news he wouldnt return to the club next year affected him badly in the Roos loss to Greater Western Sydney.Thats out of his system now ... its an elimination final so theres a big prize at the end of it and the losers go home, he said.Im really confident his focus will be where it needs to be.Drew is a quality finals performer, hes done the job for us in big games before. Other players look to him and when weve needed something in a big game hes stood up.Another omission would be a bitter pill for Daw to swallow and could see him look for greater playing opportunities elsewhere from next season.It would be disappointing for him but hes proven hes going to be a really exciting player for us, not just now but into the future, Scott said.But its an elimination final so we do what we need to do in the short term to get the job done.That wont necessarily count against him, but I think hes shown this year what a bright future hes got at our club. ' ' '