Game 49: Red Sox at Royals lineups and notes

The Red Sox will be going for the sweep when they take on the Royals Wednesday night.

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They will be looking for their third straight win after posting a 7-1 victory on Tuesday, which marked the first time the Red Sox surpassed three runs in 10 games.

They appeared to be on pace to do so again when they entered ninth with a 3-1 win, but Jarren Duran’s three-run blast with two outs put the game away. The outfielder is 5-for-14 with four extra-base hits in the last four games.

Willson Contreras had two hits and three RBIs in the win, and is 6-for-16 with seven RBIs in the last four games.

Connelly Early gets the ball for the Sox. The lefthander has allowed more than three runs just once in his nine starts this season.

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The Royals will counter with former Sox hurler Michael Wacha.

Here is a preview.

RED SOX (21-27): TBA

Pitching: LHP Connelly Early (3-2, 3.21 ERA)

ROYALS (20-29): TBA

Pitching: RHP Michael Wacha (4-2, 2.83 ERA)

Time: 7:40 p.m.

TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7

Red Sox vs. Wacha: Wilyer Abreu 0-2, Willson Contreras 4-21, Jarren Duran 1-5, Isiah Kiner-Falefa 4-13, Andruw Monasterio 0-2, Ceddanne Rafaela 0-2, Connor Wong 0-2, Masataka Yoshida 1-4

Royals vs. Early: Has not faced any Kansas City batters

Stat of the day: Since April 7, the Red Sox are 17-4 in games in which they’ve scored at least three runs.

Notes: Early is facing the Royals for the first time. In his last two starts, he’s allowed just two runs over 12 innings while striking out 14, with one walk. … The Red Sox are 19-0 when leading after seven innings. … With Tuesday night’s win, the Sox improved to 5-10-1 in series play, including 4-5 on the road. They are going for their second sweep of the season. … The pitching staff has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 13 of 17 games this month. … After tonight’s game, the Red Sox will be off on Thursday before opening a six-game homestand at Fenway on Friday, beginning with the Twins. … Wacha, who went 11-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 23 starts for the Red Sox in 2022, is 3-1 with a 2.33 ERA in five career starts against his former team. Two of Willson Contreras’s four hits off Wacha have been for home runs.

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