Boston, MA (Sports Network) - David DeJesus went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, including the eventual game-winner in the sixth, as the Royals slowed down the surging Red Sox, 4-3, in the opener of a four-game set.
Boston came into the game winners in eight of its last nine and fresh off a three-game sweep of division-leader Tampa Bay, but Brian Bannister (4-3) held the Sox to three runs on nine hits over six frames to earn the win, the Royals' second in a row after three straight losses.
Robinson Tejeda and Blake Wood both hurled a perfect inning of relief to maintain a one-run lead in front of Joakim Soria, who retired the side in order in the ninth for his 12th save of the season.
Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-2) allowed just two hits but tied a career-high with eight walks while being charged with three earned runs in the loss. The subpar start came five days after the right-hander had a no-hitter spoiled with four outs remaining against the Phillies.
Bill Hall hit a solo shot and J.D. Drew went 3-for-4 with a run scored in defeat.
Matsuzaka worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fourth to keep it a scoreless game, and Boston scored in the bottom half thanks to a lucky break.
After Kevin Youkilis' one-out single, Drew hit a one-hopper up the middle that hit umpire Paul Schrieber, who was stationed in front of second base. The possible inning-ending double-play ball turned into a single, and Adrian Beltre followed with a base hit to left to score Youkilis.
Kansas City went ahead in the fifth despite recording only one hit. A pair of walks left runners on first and second with one out for DeJesus, who singled to center to tie the game.
Matsuzaka walked Billy Butler and Jose Guillen to force in a run, and after a fielder's choice, a wild pitch got far enough away from Jason Varitek to plate Butler for a 3-1 game.
Joe Nelson relieved Matsuzaka after another bases on balls and got Jason Kendall to fly out with the bases loaded.
Hall's leadoff homer in Boston's next at-bat cut the deficit to 3-2, and DeJesus and Varitek traded run-scoring doubles off the Green Monster in the sixth to keep it a one-run contest.
Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the lineup for a third straight game because of soreness in his left side...Bannister came into the game 0-4 with a 5.87 earned-run average in four career starts against Boston...Kansas City had lost seven of eight at Fenway Park coming into the game.