Red Sox 2, Royals 1: Mike Napoli homered and Rubby De La Rosa worked seven strong innings as Boston clinched the three-game series against visiting Kansas City.

De La Rosa (3-2) made his first start in the majors since July 9, scattering one run and five hits while walking four and striking out two. Napoli scored on an error in the fourth inning and finished with a pair of hits for the Red Sox, who have won six of their last seven games.

Omar Infante lifted a sacrifice fly to plate the lone run for the Royals, who lost for the fifth time in six contests. Danny Duffy (5-10) was the tough-luck loser, allowing two runs - one earned - on six hits in 6 2/3 innings as Kansas City failed to give the left-hander more than one run of support for the fifth time in his last six starts.

Jarrod Dyson led off the third with a triple and came home on Infante’s sacrifice fly, but the Royals gave back the run in the fourth. Napoli singled and moved to second on a walk before scoring when Kansas City shortstop Alcides Escobar failed to make the play on a grounder by Shane Victorino.

Napoli snapped the tie in the sixth, getting a high 3-1 fastball from Duffy and hammering it well beyond the left-field stands and out into the Boston night. Andrew Miller worked the eighth inning and All-Star Koji Uehara pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his 20th save.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Red Sox activated Victorino from the 15-day disabled list and optioned INF-OF Mookie Betts to Triple-A Pawtucket. … Royals 1B Eric Hosmer extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a single in the first inning. … Miller’s perfect frame marked his 10th straight scoreless appearance. He has allowed a total of three hits in that span.