Game 125 - Royals 9, Red Sox 4

This is starting to get annoying.

For the 5th straight time, Tim Wakefield started a game for the Red Sox and failed to record his 200th career win despite having what seemed to be a comfortable 4-1 lead over the Kansas City Royals heading into the bottom of the 6th inning.

The Royals sent 12 men to the plate in the bottom of the 6th; 7 hits and 2 walks led to an 8-run inning. Highlights included RBI doubles by Mike Moustakas, Chris Getz, and Alex Gordon, and a triple by Eric Hosmer that drove in 2. Matt Albers took the loss for Boston in relief of Wakefield. He was charged with 5 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks in a third of an inning.

NOTES -

Marco Scutaro was back in the lineup after missing 6 games with back issues; he batted in the leadoff position and played short with Mike Aviles moving to 3rd base in place of Kevin Youkilis (DL).

Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the lineup after being hit in the back in Friday night's game. A pre-game MRI revealed no structural damage, but there was a noticeable bruise on his back. He will most likely not play Sunday, either.

David Ortiz took batting practice before the game and tweeted "Hit in the cage today and I feel good ... I will be back soon Red Sox Nation!"

Jon Lester will start for the Red Sox Sunday in the final game of the 4-game series with the Royals. Boston will head to Texas to play the Rangers in a 4-game set before returning home next weekend. They will close out the month of August at home against the Athletics and Yankees.