BOSTON (AP) — David Ortiz hit a grand slam to cap a five-run fourth inning and Dustin Pedroia extended his career-best hitting streak to 24 games with a solo homer, carrying the Boston Red Sox to a 12-5 win over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.
Jacoby Ellsbury homered leading off the first inning for the Red Sox, who won for the 19th time in 23 games and scored in double digits for the second straight night.
Pedroia, who went 4 for 5 in Tuesday’s 13-9 win, added two singles and a sacrifice fly. Adrian Gonzalez had three hits and three RBIs to raise his major-league leading total to 87.
Eric Hosmer hit a three-run homer and Billy Butler added a solo shot for the Royals.
Like Tuesday’s loss, Kansas City blew an early lead. After Hosmer’s homer put the Royals up 3-0 in the first, Boston scored two runs in the bottom of the inning and three in the second before breaking it open in the fourth against starter Bruce Chen (5-4).
John Lackey (9-8) won his fourth straight start, allowing four runs — three earned — and 11 hits, walking one and striking out three in 5 2-3 innings.
Boston had 16 hits, reaching double digits for the 11th straight home game.
Ellsbury and Pedroia, Boston’s first two batters, homered. It was the first time since July 21, 1995, that the first two Red Sox homered.
Ellsbury’s caromed off the Pesky Pole in right and Pedroia hit his into the Green Monster seats, extending his career-best streak, the longest by a second baseman in club history.
In the second, Ellsbury drew a bases-loaded walk, Pedroia had a sacrifice fly and Gonzalez’s run-scoring grounder made it 5-3.
The Red Sox broke it open with the five-run fourth that was highlighted by Ortiz’s slam. Pedroia, Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis singled before Ortiz belted his 10th career slam — ninth with the Red Sox — over Boston’s bullpen, tying him with Rico Petrocelli for second all-time in club history behind Ted Williams’ 17.
With the slam, Ortiz reached 1,000 RBIs with Boston.