BOSTON — — James Paxton worked 5 1/3 scoreless innings and five Boston pitchers combined for the seven-hit shutout as the Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 2-0 on Thursday night.
Alex Verdugo hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to give Boston a 1-0 lead and Adam Duvall added an RBI double in the fifth.
Paxton (7-3) scattered six hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
Kansas City hasn’t announced a starter for Friday’s home game against St. Louis. The Cardinals plan to start right-hander Adam Wainwright (3-6, 7.81), 6:15 with the pregame and the first pitch at 7:10 on KIRX.