The Boston Red Sox Tuesday, August 6, 2019 * The Boston Globe Xander Bogaerts asserts his leadership to spark the Red Sox Nicole Yang Third-base coach Carlos Febles held both arms in the air, overtly signaling for his runner to stop, but shortstop Xander Bogaerts blazed past the prudent instruction with hopes of reaching home. Soon it became clear Bogaerts himself wasn’t too confident in his choice, as he craned his head to check on the status of the ball. Sure enough, it was on its way to catcher Meibrys Viloria, who would tag Bogaerts out at home and end the bottom of the first inning. With the Red Sox riding an eight-game losing streak into Monday night’s game against the bottom- dwelling Kansas City Royals, the sense of urgency was high. Manager Alex Cora said before first pitch that if the team can win each of its remaining 16 series, then the defending World Series champions would be in “a good spot.” “We have to do it,” Cora said. “We can’t talk about it the whole time, like, ‘We’ll be fine, we’ll be fine, we’ll be fine, we’ll be fine.’ No, no. Right now, we’re not fine and we know it.” So, Bogaerts wanted that run. He didn’t get it. Given his performances this season, Bogaerts is hardly deserving of any criticism — even in spite of his base-running blunder. But he quickly remedied the situation, and his risky decision proved to be inconsequential. At his next at-bat, in the third inning, Bogaerts drove in Boston’s first run of the game for an early 1-0 lead. With runners on first and third and no outs, shortstop Nick Lopez couldn’t field a hard-hit ball, allowing right fielder Mookie Betts to score. The thumper, which had an exit velocity of 105.4 m.p.h., earned Lopez an error and Bogaerts his 85th RBI of the season. Bogaerts now has 20 RBIs and is batting .346 in the team’s 25 games since the All-Star Break. During that span, he also ranks among the league’s top-5 players in hits, runs, and total bases. His totals only continued to grow on Monday, as he crossed the plate in the seventh, after reaching base on a four-pitch walk, thanks to Andrew Benintendi’s second double of the day. The production, however, isn’t the only way Bogaerts has been contributing. Despite going hitless in Boston’s four losses against the New York Yankees — an 0-for-15 skid that he snapped in the first inning on Monday — Cora identified the 26-year-old as one of the players that has stepped up as a leader during the team’s recent stretch of struggles. Cora specifically highlighted his approach to the situation as well as his support for the group. “He’s been very honest, very genuine about it,” Cora said. “We made a huge commitment to this guy. He’s playing the part, not only on the field but becoming a leader of the team.” After signing a six-year, $120 million contract extension in April, Bogaerts appears to be living up to his billing. Center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., who also began his major league career in 2013, noted his teammate has been more vocal in the clubhouse. “He’s talked a little bit more than he normally does,” Bradley said. “I think he’s been able to speak his opinion a little bit more than he normally would. “As we all get older, we get a little bit more mature. He’s a year older. He’s a year more experienced. With that comes growth.” Rick Porcello’s roll through Royals was sorely needed Nick Kelly There was no need to panic when Cheslor Cuthbert turned Rick Porcello’s slider into a home run. Sure, it wasn’t something Porcello wanted to give up, but he could afford it as well as he was pitching. The solo shot in the top of the sixth inning was the only run Porcello gave up. Nothing more than a blemish in an otherwise crisp start. On Monday, Porcello put together his best performance since shutting out Minnesota for seven innings on June 17. He gave up four hits, the one earned run, walked two, and struck out five over six innings as the Red Sox snapped an eight-game losing streak, defeating the Kansas City Royals, 7-5, in the series opener at Fenway Park. “Today, you saw the rhythm and the conviction behind the pitches,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “He was able to repeat his windup and he did what he did. A good mix of pitches. The curveball, the changeup, the fastball played today. He gave us six innings, and that was what we were looking for.” Porcello mixed his 99 pitches well, 31 of which were four-seam fastballs and 24 two-seamers. His first of five strikeouts, however, came on his slider. It was the same pitch he threw to Cuthbert, about 84 miles per hour, when Cuthbert homered. But in this at-bat, Porcello got Cuthbert to bite as he struck out swinging. “On an eight-game skid, we needed to stop the bleeding and turn it around,” Porcello said. “Nice to be able to go out there, have a positive start, and contribute to a win.” Cuthbert remained at the center of just about every crucial moment in Porcello’s start Monday. There was the first strikeout of the game and the home run in the sixth, but Porcello pointed to another Cuthbert moment as the turning point. The Red Sox took a 3-0 lead in the third, thanks in part to a two-run homer from Sam Travis. Porcello took the mound in the next inning, knowing how crucial the first out would be to build on the offensive momentum. But he fell behind Cuthbert, 3-1. Then, Porcello executed a fastball down and away that turned into a fly out to Jackie Bradley Jr. “That was, in my mind, probably the biggest at-bat of the game,” Porcello said. “He gets on base, and you allow them to start to do some things. More just kind of the momentum. We get up three runs and you want to put a zero up there, and have a shutdown inning.” There were plenty of zeros put up while Porcello stood on the mound — something that he, the rotation and the Red Sox badly needed. Never mind that the outing came against the Royals, third from the bottom of the American League. Porcello came into the game having allowed at least three earned runs in each of his seven starts since the Twins shutout. In four of those seven outings, he gave up six earned runs. The starting rotation has not been much better as a whole. In the eight games coming into Monday, it had given up 61 hits and 44 earned runs over 37 innings. Even if it’s against the Royals, the Red Sox are more than happy to have a four-hit, one-earned-run outing from their starting pitcher. The effort from Porcello prevented the Sox from stringing together nine consecutive losses, something they have not done since 2010. “It’s a huge boost,” third baseman Rafael Devers said through a translator. “The first game of the homestand, it’s always good to have that first win. We know we have a bunch of pitchers that are capable of doing it, so it was good that Rick got us off on the right foot.” The Sox are well aware that they are not out of the rut yet, though. It’s one game, and they still sit outside of a wild card spot. But they will take a win over a loss any day. Especially when victories have been so difficult to find. “We have to do better,” Cora said. “That’s the bottom line. For us to do this, it starts with pitching. “ Today was the first step.” Bad back forces J.D. Martinez out of Monday’s lineup Matt Porter As the Red Sox tried to get off the mat Monday, J.D. Martinez was a strong candidate to do some heavy lifting. If only his back would allow it. The club scratched Martinez, on the longest hitting streak among Boston regulars (four games), from Monday’s lineup against the Kansas City Royals because of a back ailment. Martinez has dealt with minor back discomfort this season. It was “acting up,” manager Alex Cora said before the Red Sox snapped an eight-game skid with a 7-5 victory. “A little bit tight.” Cora said the flare-up occurred, and was treated, Monday morning. Martinez was not hampered during the New York series. He was not expected to be available until Tuesday, at the earliest. “It is what it is,” Cora said. “We’re not going to push him out there. We’ve got to make sure he’s healthy.” During the team’s eight-game slide, Martinez hit .417 (5 for 12), with a homer, two RBIs, and five walks over his last four games. He had homered in four of his last 10 games, and three of his last six at Fenway. Christian Vazquez filled in at designated hitter, going 0 for 4. Sandy Leon caught and hit ninth, with left fielder Andrew Benintendi moving into Martinez’s cleanup spot, where he went 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs.