Royals’ late rally clinches series win

KANSAS CITY — Mike Sweeney hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning, capping a two-run rally against rookie closer Jonathan Papelbon that carried the Kansas City Royals to a 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

Manny Ramirez hit a home run to extend his career-best hitting streak to 24 games, and Javy Lopez added a two-run double for Boston on a 102-degree night.

But Papelbon (3-2) failed to hold a 4-3 lead in the ninth, costing Josh Beckett his 14th win and leaving the Red Sox with a four-game losing streak.

All four losses have come against Tampa Bay and Kansas City, the two worst teams in the American League.

Boston also fell three games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East.

Pinch-hitter Esteban German led off the Kansas City ninth with a triple. After Joey Gathright struck out, David DeJesus tied the score with a sacrifice fly to left.

Mark Grudzielanek doubled, and Sweeney lined the next pitch to left field. Ramirez didn’t even bother with a throw to the plate.

Sweeney, a five-time All-Star, came off the 60-day disabled list Tuesday after missing 88 games with a bulging disc in his back.

It was Papelbon’s fifth blown save in 35 opportunities.

Scott Dohmann (1-1) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the win.

Ramirez hit a two-run shot to center with two outs in the first inning. His hitting streak is the longest in the AL this season.

He is batting .398 during the streak with eight home runs, 26 RBIs and 19 runs. He also has 35 career home runs and 108 RBIs against Kansas City.

Beckett, who threw eight shutout innings to beat the Royals 1-0 on July 19 at Boston, retired his first 10 batters. But he gave up three runs, two earned, in the fourth. Mark Teahen stroked a two-run double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball charged to Lopez.

Beckett left after six innings and 103 pitches. He allowed six hits, walked none, struck out five and threw three wild pitches.

Royals left-hander Mark Redman lasted just 4 1/3 innings, giving up four runs on five hits and five walks.

Kansas City’s lone representative in the All-Star game, Redman walked the leadoff batter in four of the first five innings.

Lopez had a two-run double in fourth, scoring Mike Lowell, who had walked, and Gabe Kapler, who had doubled. Kapler snapped an 0-for-17 slump with the hit.

Lopez has a .410 career average against the Royals, matching Randall Simon for the highest career average against Kansas City with a minimum of 75 at-bats.

The Royals turned three double plays, including one against Wily Mo Pena with the bases loaded to end the seventh.

The Royals have turned a major league-leading 138 double plays.

The gametime temperature was the hottest for a Royals home game since Aug. 29, 1985, when it was 103.