Red Sox play spoiler, knock Royals out of 1st place in Central

Kansas City, MO - Allen Webster limited the Royals to a pair of runs over six innings, and the Boston Red Sox edged Kansas City, 4-2, in the second installment of a four-game series.

The Red Sox, who won 6-3 Thursday night, dropped the Royals into second place in the AL Central. Kansas City is a half-game behind Detroit, which won at home against Cleveland Friday night.

Webster (4-3) had a 9.88 ERA over his previous three starts, but the 24-year- old right-hander gave up just four hits Friday.

Jemile Weeks doubled twice and scored two times for the Red Sox, who entered this series on a four-game losing streak.

Yordano Ventura (12-10) fanned six over seven innings, but he yielded eight hits and four runs -- three earned -- to watch his personal three-game winning stretch come to an end.

Eric Hosmer belted a two-run homer in the fourth inning for the Royals, who suffered their fourth loss in five games.

Mookie Betts grounded a single to right to plate Weeks during a three-run third inning. Betts came home when Mike Moustakas threw the ball wild to first base later in the inning when Yoenis Cespedes singled. Daniel Nava, who was hit by a Ventura offering, scored on a wild pitch.

Hosmer homered to right field with Alex Gordon aboard in the fourth, but the Red Sox made it 4-2 in the next inning when Nava singled in Weeks.

Edward Mujica retired the side in order in the ninth for his sixth save as four relievers combined to keep the Royals off the bases over the last three frames.