Red Sox Pitching Struggles in Loss to Royals

Dustin May struggled in his Boston Red Sox debut, lasting just 3⅔ innings and allowing three runs on six hits, one walk, and two hit batters in a 7-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals, which ended Boston's seven-game win streak. May’s high pitch count and mechanical issues underscored ongoing Red Sox rotation challenges due to injuries and inconsistent performances. Boston pitchers set a franchise record by hitting five Royals batters, with May, Chris Murphy, and Isaiah Campbell all contributing. Both May and manager Alex Cora noted positives, such as May’s increased use of his cutter. Jordan Hicks, also recently acquired to bolster the staff, gave up a crucial three-run homer in the seventh inning. The performances of May and Hicks have highlighted persistent questions about Boston's pitching depth.