G117: Royals 5, Red Sox 1

Red Sox - 000 000 001 - 1  7  3
Royals  - 300 000 02x - 5  6  0

Jon Lester / Bruce Chen

Ellsbury, CF
Victorino, RF
Pedroia, 2B
Gomes, LF
Drew, SS
Napoli, DH
Nava, 1B
Saltalamacchia, C
Holt, 3B

With a win, the Red Sox (70-46) can increase their AL East lead to three games over the idle Rays.

In his last 10 starts, covering June and July, Lester has a 5.25 ERA. Alex Speier has an article on Lester's quest to reclaim a pitching identity.

Kansas City is 15-4 since the All-Star break. In the Royals' last 15 games, its pitchers have held opponents to a .156 batting average with runners in scoring position.

Koji Uehara has allowed only one unearned run in 18.1 innings since the start of July. He's walked two and struck out 25 over that period. (The Eck thinks he's "magical".)