Royals 9, Red Sox 6: Eric Hosmer's go-ahead two-run single highlighted a six-run sixth inning as host Kansas City won for the 15th time in 17 games.

Justin Maxwell cracked a solo homer among his three hits and had two RBIs while David Lough also drove in a pair for the Royals, who remained 4 1/2 games behind Texas for the final American League wild-card spot. Francisley Bueno (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the victory.

Mike Napoli hit a three-run double and David Ortiz added a solo home run for the Red Sox, whose lead in the AL East over Tampa Bay remained at two games. Drake Britton (1-1) yielded two runs and allowed two inherited runners to score after entering the sixth inning with none out and Boston leading 6-4.

After Ortiz went deep and Jarrod Saltalamacchia delivered an RBI double in the third, Alex Gordon homered in the bottom half to tie it at 3. Dustin Pedroia and Ortiz singled and Daniel Nava was hit by a pitch - all with two outs - before Napoli ripped a double over Maxwell's head in center to clear the bases in the fourth.

Alcides Escobar's RBI single chased Boston starter Jake Peavy and Lough hit a sacrifice fly three batters later. Hosmer followed with an opposite-field single to left and Billy Butler greeted reliever Pedro Beato with an RBI double before Maxwell's second single of the inning drove in Butler two batters later to finish the uprising.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Kansas City's Greg Holland earned his 31st save in 33 chances after pitching a perfect ninth inning. ... Peavy, who is 1-5 at Kauffman Stadium, allowed six runs and 10 hits in five-plus innings as his ERA in Kansas City rose to 6.32. Peavy yielded a home run for the seventh straight game, serving up 10 during that span. ... The Royals' Ervin Santana yielded six runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings - his shortest outing of the season - after going 3-0 with a 1.27 ERA in his previous four starts.