KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Chip Ambres’ sacrifice fly drove in David DeJesus with the winning run with one out in the 11th Wednesday night, lifting the Kansas City Royals to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

DeJesus walked with one out in the 11th and then went to second on Terrence Long’s third single. After Bronson Arroyo (10-9) walked Mike Sweeney, Ambres lifted a fly ball to medium left. Manny Ramirez’s throw was straight to the plate but Ambres slid in safely to give the Royals their third win in four games since losing a franchise-record 19 straight.

The Red Sox loaded the bases in the fifth, sixth and seventh but failed to score and the Royals did the same in the sixth and ninth. Boston was not retired in order until the 10th and 11th by Andrew Sisco (2-2).

The Royals tied the score at 3 on a two-run home run in the fifth by DeJesus, who had missed the three previous games with a sore muscle in his side.

Boston starter Matt Clement, who was struck in the head by a line drive on July 26 and missed one start, appeared to hurt his throwing hand while stopping a comebacker to the mound in the third inning. Manager Terry Francona and the team trainer came out to talk to him, but after throwing a few test pitches, he stayed in the game.

The next two batters, DeJesus and Long, each singled, and DeJesus scored on Sweeney’s sacrifice fly to center.

Clement pitched seven innings, giving up three runs and six hits. He also had a wild pitch and hit three batters, including Angel Berroa twice.

The Red Sox, vying for their fifth straight win against the Royals, scored a run in each of the first three innings off D. J. Carrasco. Ramirez had an RBI single in the first, Kevin Millar homered in the second and Johnny Damon scored his second run of the game on a doubleplay grounder by David Ortiz.

Millar, breaking an 0-for-15 skid, hit Carrasco’s 1-0 pitch with one out in the second for his fifth home run and first since June 4, a span of 182 at-bats.

With the bases loaded and one out in the fifth, Carrasco got Ramirez to ground into a double play on the first pitch. Damon grounded out to end the next inning.

With one out in the seventh, Ambiorix Burgos struck out Jason Varitek and then left fielder Long made a great diving catch of Millar’s sinking liner. Then with two on and two out in the eighth, Ortiz fouled out – giving the Red Sox 10 stranded runners in only four innings.

The Royals put the potential go-ahead run on third with one out in the eighth, but reliever Chad Bradford came in and struck out Angel Berroa and John Buck. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Mike Timlin struck out Chip Ambres and got Emil Brown to pop up.

Edgar Renteria was 3-for-5 with a walk and three singles after getting two singles and a double the night before. He’s had at least two hits in each of his last four games.

The Royals loaded the bases with one out in the sixth but Clement got a double-play grounder from Buck, who was 0-for-4 after coming to bat with seven runners on base.

Carrasco went 5 2-3 innings and was charged with three runs on five hits. He struck out one and walked four.

Notes: RHP Curt Schilling will make his first start since April 23 on Thursday night. He’s been pitching out of the bullpen since coming off the disabled list last month. … Boston LHP David Wells and Kansas City RHP Runelvys Hernandez each had their hearings on Wednesday regarding suspensions. Wells was suspended six games for a confrontation with umpires and Hernandez drew a 10-game suspension for throwing at batters. Decisions are not expected until next week. … Royals 2B Donnie Murphy left the game in the third inning after fielding a hard-hit grounder by Ortiz. He was taken to a hospital for X-rays on his right ring finger and replaced by Denny Hocking. … The game was delayed for 18 minutes in the top of the eighth by rain. … After striking out in the first, DeJesus reached base five straight plate appearances.

AP-ES-08-25-05 0046EDT

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