Whit Merrifield fist-pumped the Royals’ dugout in delight. Red Sox reliever Blaine Boyer clenched his fist in anger.
The key battle in the Royals-Red Sox series opener went to Merrifield, who bounced a single through a drawn-in left side of the infield and paved the way to a 4-2 Royals’ triumph at Kauffman Stadium on Monday.
The game stood 2-2 when the bottom and top of the Royals’ order served up the go-ahead drama.
Catcher Drew Butera, in the lineup as Salvador Perez rested because of a sore rib, stroked a one-out line drive to center field, where Jackie Bradley Jr.