Recap - Mookie Returns Without Skipping A Beat

Jim Monaghan
Content Coordinator

Mookie Betts returned to the starting lineup Wednesday afternoon and ripped three home runs in a 5-4 Red Sox win over the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park.

Photo courtesy of the Boston Red Sox
Drew Pomeranz started for Boston and was shaky early, allowing the Royals to take a 3-0 lead midway into second inning.

The Red Sox tied the game in the bottom of the third on a solo home run from Betts and a two-run shot by J.D. Martinez. Betts made it 4-3 in the bottom of the bottom of the fifth.

His home run in the seventh was to centerfield near the flag pole and put him in the major league lead for homers with his 11th long ball of the year.

It was Mookie's second three-home run game of the year (April 17th versus the Angels) and the fourth of his career, which is a franchise record.

Pomeranz went six innings before giving way to Joe Kelly in his first appearance since his six-game suspension for the April 11 fracas with the Yankees. Kelly gave up a leadoff single before striking out two and getting a ground ball to end the inning.

Matt Barnes allowed a home run in the eighth to complete the Royals' scoring.

Craig Kimbrel closed things out in the ninth and struck out the side for his eighth save, just one night after blowing his first save opportunity of the season.

Click here to find more by Jim Monaghan on Red Sox Life. Follow him on twitter - @Monaghan21.